> The Triumvirate
>  by Fedora71
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Ancro, Stigandr, and Scott
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Triumvirate
Somewhere in the Canterlot prison, kept under vigilant guard, a changeling patiently waits for his daily visitor. That visitor is responsible for the magical barrier currently surrounding the changeling, the same barrier that he had used to protect Canterlot during his wedding. He will arrive, make a threat, recharge the barrier, and then leave after the changeling taunts him. The visitor wasn't the greatest friend the changeling had, not by a long shot, but he still counted Shining Armor as a friend. 
The changeling’s eyes shot open as he felt the familiar presence of his warden, but then another presence appeared. It felt warm and radiant, in contrast to the more restrained feeling of Shining Armor. He tried to piece together who the other presence was as it grew closer, and felt himself being blinded. It’s an odd sensation, seeing something... without seeing something. Even though he had become used to it, his super-powered empathic sense still needed some fine-tuning; though it had served him well against the thirty or so guards he pummeled. The door to his cell, in what he presumed was the Crystal Caverns, was opened. A blinding light shown through, momentarily obscuring his vision. He face-hoofed for not figuring out who his other visitor was sooner.
“Your Royal Highness Princess Celestia, however may I be of assistance?” the Changeling said while taking a bow far too deep and gracious for it to be taken as anything but sarcasm, even ignoring his tone. He wasn’t usually like this; only when he had been locked up for a few days, or was hungry, or was just in a mood, was he a sarcastic ass. All Celestia did was look upon him with pity; he was hardly looking at her, but could feel it rolling off her gaze. It was not something he was a fan of having dumped on him. Still, he was intrigued, since he was captured on Luna's shift, why was Celestia the first royal to come visit him?
“What is your name?” she said in a commanding voice. He could tell she was in no mood for games or taunts, but that wasn’t going to prevent him from being an ass. It did let him figure out how far he could push her. He glanced to Shining Armor who was standing at attention and not revealing a hint of emotion, what a champ. He pried his eyes off what he was reading and to the princess, which was a difficult task. Even looking at her made him want to squint, and she had her blinding sun thing turned off. Now, more than ever, he was wishing he could turn off his super charged 6th sense. Still, its uses were many.
A cocky wise-ass grin crept onto his face.

***

Battered and bloodied from a violent crash-landing, a unicorn stallion awakens lost in the Everfree forest. He runs through the preceding events in his mind. They had been running, or... actually flying, and their well thought-out plan had turned into a bust as his one companion had predicted. Granted, that prediction had been delivered with complete sarcasm.They had snuck into the Canterlot library, the part with the restricted books, and had just started tearing into the old tomes when the plan started to unravel. They needed to get out of there fast, so the changeling had stayed behind to give them time to escape. The last he saw of him, his friend had just bucked him out the window.
A twig broke behind him. He struggled to stand, but a fall from undetermined heights can have unfortunate repercussions on the pony body, a fact that he had quickly gotten used to on this 'vacation' to Equestria. So far it had been one disaster after another.
It was the griffin’s idea to go after that book after the changeling mentioned off-hoofedly that something like that would be in the Canterlot library. The book was to give them an emergency way home, since the griffin had been wanting to leave. The changeling had said it was a necessary precaution. He agreed that at the very least having a way home wouldn't be a bad idea. A twig snapping brought him back to reality, and he heard hoofsteps come up behind him. He was so glad they were hoofsteps and not whatever steps a hydra or manticore make. Unless it was a changeling. Because if it wasn't one specific changeling, he was thoroughly screwed.
“Oh, my” the most angelic, softest, tenderest, and kindest voice in the world said from behind him. Upon hearing those words, he felt obligated to pass out from a mixture of broken everything, and joy.
He woke up, what he assumed was some time later, in the familiar cottage of Fluttershy's.He was being bandaged up by none other than the yellow and pink pegasus herself. If he wasn’t in absolute agony, he would’ve 'squee'd.
“Don’t worry, I sent my bunny friend, Angel, to go get some doctors who are going to take real good care of you” she said in her kind and soft voice. “But, uhhh, if it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me your name? If you don’t mind that is.”
Now this was a predicament. When the three of them had first arrived in Equestria, they realized something: they couldn't use their real names. Well, except for the griffin. Whenever they tried to say them, all that resulted was silence and awkward lip movement.
Changing his name didn’t bother him. Potentially lying to Fluttershy did. The unicorn took as deep a breath his broken ribs would allow and steeled himself.

***

A griffin woke up in a Cloudsdale hospital. At least, he assumed it was a Cloudsdale hospital since it was made out of clouds, he never much cared to learn the geography of Equestria.Then there was a knock on the cloud door. His brain tried to pass the mandatory “knocking on cloud door” sanity check, which he succeeded, something he had been getting better and better at as time went on. It had gotten easier since he had his first breakdown upon trying to figure out how he was capable of walking on clouds. At first he thought they were made of some other magic, but then found out they were made of the same stuff as regular earth clouds. His freak-out had lasted nearly thirty minutes, and he had since subscribed to the popular theory of “Its goddamned magic.” Still, it kept him up at night.
“Hello?” He asked groggily while still in pain and trying to piece together what had happened. The mission was to break into pony library, steal pony book, and get it to somepony who can use pony book to get them out of pony land before they endangered the universe with their other universal knowledge. He passed the sanity check for having 'pony' in that thought so many times.
He was still coming to grips with the reality of what was going on, since waking up in the middle of some field on a stone altar. His two best friends changed into a unicorn and a pony... bug... parasite... carnivore... thing. He had changed into a griffin, something that he, himself, thought was badass to the max. He was one of the three things with thumbs in the whole known magical world. Well, maybe it didn’t amount to much since the unicorn had telekinesis, and the changeling had telekinesis AND could freaking transform his hooves into hands.
The pegasus nurse entered the room with a clipboard under her wing, and a kind smile on her face. The griffin immediately relaxed upon seeing a lack of royal guards, which meant that the changeling’s insane plan to buy time for them to escape had paid off, hopefully. After all, the part of the library they had infiltrated was restricted and guarded with relatively painful alarm spells. He had found that out first-hand... talon... claw? He’d have to ask another griffin to say it so he would know what was right.
“Excuse me, but we were in such a hurry to rush you in here we didn’t exactly get your name. We need it for some minor paper work if you don’t mind giving it to us.”
The griffin, unlike the other two, merely had an uncommon name in his society, so whatever powers that be enabled him to fly with his birth name.

***

“You had but to ask, your highness,” the changeling said with another deep bow and sarcastic tone, gaining a glare from both his visitors “But, I have many names. Which would you prefer I use?” He couldn't actually see the glare from the captain, who was standing at attention, but he could feel it.
“The name you prefer to be addressed by.” He felt the steady focus of power, and realized that the princess’s patience was thin to nonexistent. He wondered if that was a general rule for changelings, or if something else was bugging her. It was beyond him. Either way, he decided not to press his luck, and instead go with the name he had forged as a changeling upon his arrival in Equestria. It was, to him at least, something elegant, and a name he defaulted to in fantasy games.
“Ancro,” he said, being sincere with his respect now. He was curious now,  was willing to try to find out what else might have riled up a princess. He had been in there for a few days now. If she was just pissed at him, she would’ve been there sooner. “Now, how may I be of service?”
***

“Ummm...” he was still hesitant, looking into those big soulful eyes, as he was about to lie to the element of kindness. “Stigandr,” he whimpered through the double dose of physical and emotional pain. He took his friend’s advice when it came to naming, and defaulted to his screen name. His actually had a meaning, unlike his friend who had thrown one together for an rpg and re-used the name ever since. His was Norwegian for ‘wanderer’ or ‘drifter’, something he had some experience in.
“Oh, that’s…nice,” she said, in the only way Fluttershy could say it. She was so adorable, if he could’ve moved he would’ve hugged her.

***

“Meh, the name’s Scott,” the griffin said, popping a mock salute to the pony nurse.
“Okay then, mister Scott.” He had, at this point, just stopped caring about how ponies write so accurately with only their mouths. “We just have to finish some paperwork, then you’ll be ready to leave first thing in the morning.”
“What about my bill?"
“Oh, that. The mare who crashed into you took care of it. Said she felt so bad about it that it was the least she could do.” The nurse left.
Scott groaned, he never left a debt unpaid, ESPECIALLY from a stranger. First thing he was going to do, though, was find his friends, then he could resolve this issue.

(New Story, give me feedback, this is my first attempt at a humans in Equestria story so please constructive criticism is much appreciated. Cover art also done by Sara, shaya.laperro@gmail.com. Now with improved grammar and better continuity thanks mostly to Stigandr and Tuv)

> Out the window
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2

The changeling, Ancro, stood in the bubble staring at the Princess, awaiting her response. He did have a slight edge over her, at least he hoped. He was an empath. To imagine an empath, think of somebody who is more attuned to the world around them. They sense…things, and since coming to Equestria, it had been as though it had a steroid shot. The worst part for him was that he wasn’t sure if it was the Changeling’s innate ability or his own natural talent. His curiosity for this delectable question was like being taken to a five star restaurant and you weren’t allowed to know what you or anyone else was going to be eating.
“Ancro,” The princesses’ motherly tone snapped him back to reality from a cocky daydream. “What were you doing breaking into the library?”
“Looking for a book,” he answered, hoping she would leave it at that. He didn’t want to go into the details of how the plan had failed.
“About?”
“Recipes. I hear you have an amazing recipe for banana bread.” Ancro chuckled at his joke, but Celestia didn’t see the humor in it. As for Shining Armor, well, he just stood there like a statue.
“What book were you looking for?” Her patience was wearing thin.
“What does it matter, we weren’t able to obtain it.” He looked away from Celestia, and saw Shining Armor’s eyes widen with shock.
“We?” She asked, raising her eyebrow startlingly high as the shock hit her. “You were not alone.”
“Maybe,” Ancro answered coyly, tilting his head to the side. ‘Damn,’ he thought, ‘I just goofed.’
“How many?” Shining Armor demanded, breaking his stone expression.
“Chill Shiny, there were only three of us.” He took a deep breath, and prepared a statement in his mind. “I do not know of any attempts by the changelings to attack Equestria. We were just looking for a book, but…something kinda threw a wrench in our brilliantly thought out plan.” He changed the subject. This was going to be funny, and he was always the kind of person who could laugh at his mistakes and short comings.
“Which was…?” Celestia said in an encouraging tone, he could tell she was slightly interested.
“None of us know how to read.” He shrugged, smiling at the absurdity of breaking into a library to steal a book and not knowing how to read. The princess’s jaw nearly hit the ground. It was all Shining could do to not laugh. “I know, amazing how that thought hadn’t crossed our minds until after we broke in.”
“So, they left you behind?” Celestia asked, gesturing her horn at his slowly regrowing wing, trying to change the topic back to his companions.
“No, it was my own choice; they were somewhat reluctant about the whole idea.” He laughed nervously.
“In what way?”
“I knocked one out and sent him flying out a window, then sent the other one to catch him.” He smiled wryly and watched Celestia’s eyes, or eye, rather- widen. It was all he could do not to ask if she was able to see through her mane. They stared at each other for a few more minutes, Ancro smiling complacently waiting for her next question, Celestia somewhat afraid to ask. Ancro, after a while, felt the awkward moment permeate the air.
“…It has been…interesting talking with you,” she said, trying to sound inoffensive.
“Ah, thanks Princess. Next time, you’ll have to bring some snacks.” His meaning was sincere, though the comment was sarcastic.
“Perhaps,” was all she said as she left, with Shining Armor close behind. He let out a breath as her burningly powerful presence left the room, and slowly got further and further away. Her very presence was somewhat detrimental to his health. He hoped she would visit again.
She had left him alone with his thoughts. A position he was typically quite fond of. This time however, he was plagued by what he was hoping was unnecessary guilt. He thought back to a few days ago, and was trying to think of how it could’ve ended better.

-----

Stigandr levitated the window open for Scott as he dove inside the library, barely making a noise. The door on the opposite side of the room opened, and in walked three guards, barely visible in their night armor. As they rounded the corner several flashes of green light lit up the shadows, and only a changeling walked out.
“That’s going to keep me up at night, if you must know,” Ancro said sarcastically to his partners in crime. “I hate hitting anyone while their back is turned.”
The dirt brown unicorn, with the black mane and white highlights at the top, shook his head and rested a hoof on the changeling’s shoulder. “I’m sorry Ancro, but it had to be done.”
“Yeah, one quick discharge to the back of their neck knocks 'em out cold. Just wish it didn’t hurt me so damn much.” He smiled wryly at his friend, and sent a few quick jabs his way, which the unicorn easily deflected with his fore leg. They were about to go into the usual routine of some light sparring, but Scott had had had enough of that.
The griffon grabbed Stigandr by the mane and Ancro by the dorsal fin... thing, they still weren’t sure what to call it…even after a whole month. They hadn’t run into any changelings to ask.
“Guys, stop joking around. This is serious,” he whispered. Granted, his whispers were what most people consider normal volume. “Stigandr, you know how to get to the restricted section right?”
“Eeeyup, just down this hall,” he said, and pointed his hoof to a large pair of double doors as they stepped over the three unconscious guards.
“Ancro, change into something less conspicuous.” He had his fore claw over his eyes in exasperation. Ancro had the entire changeling package, including transformation, and they had seen him do it all the time. It’s just that Ancro didn’t like it. He was a fighter at heart, not a spy.
“Fine.” The changeling groaned while taking on his favorite form. It was a brown pegasus with a dirty blonde, relatively unkempt mane and tail. The form effectively made it look like he had just rolled out of bed. His fake cutie mark was a bed.  Ancro rolled his eyes as they stepped over the unconscious guards. They reached the door and slowly opened it.
“So… No locks?” Scott asked, as the door didn’t resist in the slightest.
“Guess not,” Stigandr said, as he walked inside.
So…besides the usual changeling countermeasures and increased number of guards, there hasn’t been a single improvement to security.” Ancro said this and turned his head to his friends. “Why did you all bring me along, again?”
“Figured it would be fun?” Stigandr shrugged.
“Makes sense,” Ancro replied. He walked inside the library and started to browse the books, looking at all the different titles that he had no means of understanding, or hopes of comprehension. While Ancro knew he couldn’t read pony, he thought Stigs knew how to read everything fine. When he looked over, he saw his unicorn friend staring at him expectantly.
“What are you waiting for Stigs, find the book,” the insectoid pony said, buzzing up and down the shelves.
“I can’t read pony, or Equestrian, or whatever it is.”
“Well neither can I,” Ancro said in shock. They both looked to Scott, who shook his head as his jaw hit the ground.
“Then why are youuu…” He drug out the last word, then face-taloned. “Wait, we broke into a library, and neither of you know how to read pony?” He exclaimed, while still keeping his voice quiet. “I thought both of you were hardcore bronies!”
“We're fans of the show, Scott. Doesn’t mean we know everything!” Ancro explained, throwing his holed hooves into the air.
“Well you know what happens when you assume!” The griffon said, throwing his claws skywards.
“It’s actually kind of funny,” Ancro laughed. “We hadn’t encountered this problem yet, guess we were lucky?”
“Lucky?!” Scott snapped. “I’m going to be stuck in Ponyl-er-Equestria.” He threw his wings out for emphasis.
“Until we learn to read,” Stigandr said, making his way towards the door. “C’mon guys, let’s go.”
“Just a minute,” Ancro absently mumbled from behind the bookshelf, seeing if he could force the words on the page to make sense. Neither of his companions heard him.
The griffon turned towards the door as well, but didn’t check his wings when he turned. It was a bad habit of his that had accidentally clothes-lined ponies before. This time, it hit the top of the bookshelf. They watched in horror as the shelf fell on top of the changeling. The dust settled, and he had managed to avoid any serious injuries... except for the shelf crushing one of his wings. Ancro was thankful for its amazing lack of nerves.
Alarms were sounded and the echo of hoof steps and armor clatter began to grow. The changeling closed his eyes and began to use his new empathic senses, making sure he was getting all of the information he needed. It wasn’t good. It seemed every guard in the castle was heading towards them. Ancro took several deep breaths and ripped his wing off. 'It’s okay, it grows back' he hoped, while showing some level of confidence.
In no time the library was surrounded as guards took up breaching positions at each entrance. Then they just waited. Ancro felt their anticipation and anxiousness... It was flooding through the doorways, and was starting to build up in him to the point where he was ready to bust down the door to start things himself. This was countered, of course, by Scott’s desire to panic and run. Both of his friends knew he wasn’t a fighter, and had tried unsuccessfully in the past to make him one. He just didn’t have it in him. Stigandr was trying to think of a way to talk themselves out, but was also trying to come up with a way to fight their way out if need be, which was starting to look like the latter. It was then that the changeling felt something; a very powerful presence. He tried to penetrate it, but while others' presences were like a jello and he could poke at them, this one was a solid piece of metal.
“We need to leave now,” Ancro said as he felt the presence. Something he had determined as a unicorn, at the very least, was charging up for something.
“How we doing it?” The griffon smiled halfheartedly. He may have looked vicious, but he was pathetic in a fight. “I can only carry one of you.”
“Take two trips?” Stigandr said hopefully. Ancro’s mind, however, had already come to the conclusion.
“We are going need a distraction,” Ancro commented, grinning cockily.
“How are we going….no,” Stigandr said, coming to the same answer. “You may be hung up on martyrdom for some reason, but we are not leaving you behind.”
“Stigs, we don’t have much choice. Scott can only carry one of us out of here.” He felt the spark of magic, and saw the pink shell forming around the library. “We are out of time!”
“We’ll take two trips,” he said, stomping his hoof. “We are not arguing this.”
“You’re right, we’re not. Scott catch him!” Ancro bucked him fully out the window, sending his friend flying off the cliff. The momentarily stunned griffon quickly gave chase. The changeling took a deep breath and thought back to an episode he personally favored. He thought of the only pony who would have reason, if not justification, to break into the restricted section of the library in the middle of the night. In a green flash, he became a violet unicorn with a purple and pink mane, a starry cutie mark adorned his/her flank. His remaining wing disappeared into his fur coat, and he took one final deep breath as he felt his friend’s presences leave the rapidly enclosing shield. He said a silent prayer that the patrolling pegasi hadn’t spotted them. Simultaneously the doors were bucked open and guards flooded in. Ancro smiled. He had timed the kick perfectly, of course what else was to be expected, he was after all…
“Twilight Sparkle?!” One of the guards exclaimed, running into the room after a unicorn blasted the door off the hinges. “What are you doing here at this hour?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Ancro answered, sitting at the table in the middle of the room and flipping the page to a book, a book he had held a thin glimmer of hope for being a guide to translate from Pony to English. It was not.
“Ma’am, you are reading, but what-how-why?” The unicorn stammered out, as Ancro flipped yet another page.
“I needed some light reading, and nothing at the Ponyville library interested me,” Ancro said, looking at the guard, trying his best to look at him like he was an idiot. A task he felt Twilight’s face was surprisingly good at.
“L-L-light reading?” The guard stammered, as he lifted the cover of the book. “H-H-how is Transmutation Amalgamation light reading?”
Before Ancro could give an answer, in walked the last pony in Equestria he wanted to see right now. Things were going so well, too...
“Twiley?” Shining Armor asked, as he walked through the door. “You’re the one who set off the alarm?”
“Oh, that’s what that was?” Ancro responded, not looking up from his book, desperately trying not to break the façade. “Sorry, was just absorbed in this book.”
“Why didn’t you send for it?”
“Oh, it was late and I didn’t want to be a bother.” A small bit of confidence filled Ancro as he thought he might be able to talk his way out of here. “And sorry about the mess, I was trying out a new teleportation spell.”
“It wouldn’t have been a bother; I would’ve delivered it when I came to Ponyville next week.” Shining Armor responded.
“Yeah, but I really wanted to see it now, cause I was reading something earlier today and something came up, and it’s just been bothering me.”
“Okay, well clean up when you’re done.” Shining Armor chuckled, and started to head out of the room. Ancro was so over joyed that he didn’t feel the panicked presence of a unicorn he had knocked out earlier.
“Captain, there’s a changeling on the loose!” he panted, and he didn’t need to look up to feel all eyes fall on him. Ancro couldn’t help but laugh at the turn of events. He charged the nearest guard before they had time to react.

-----

“Good morning, mister Stigandr,” the doctor said, walking in. “How are you feeling? Better, I hope, you took quite the fall.”
“Yeah, you could say that.” The brown unicorn groaned, or at least tried to, through his bandaged everything. He had been sedated for three days, but was due to make a full recovery in a week. He loved magic.
“Now don’t you worry. You’ll be perfectly fine in a few days, but I’d just like to know what the blazes you were doing in the Everfree forest in the middle of the night.”
“Well, you ever have one of those days?” he chuckled.
“I don’t quite follow.”
“You know, one of those days where stuff just goes all kinds of wrong.”
“Oh, you mean like that. Well, trust me, I’ve had those happen quite a bit,” he chuckled in return.
“Yeah, well, it was one of those days.”

-----

Scott caught Stigandr with time to spare as he fled away from the rapidly enclosing bubble.
“Scott, we have to go ba-Ow!” Stigandr looked to where Scott’s eagle claw had brushed him, and saw two black scorch marks. Ancro did not hold back.
“Um, you’re in no shape, bud,” Scott said, taking a look at the scorch marks midflight, “and just me and him, we don’t work,” he finished with a forced chuckle. Ancro had been his best friend for eight years, and they both knew that any time they teamed up, it sucked. Badly.
“I’m going to kill that bug,” Stigs groaned as they fled the scene.
“You and me both, bro. Well actually, just you cause he’ll kick my ass.” He tried to make light humor, but then heard Stigandr wince again as he accidently brushed the injury. “So, are there any doctors in ponyville?”
“Yeah, there’s a hospital,” he answered, a mixture of depression and anger fueling his voice.
“Good, that’s where we’re going. Lead the way.”
“Why not Canterlot?” He took a look back, and quickly found out why not Canterlot. The whole city was on alert. If they went back into the city, they might be noticed and then it just wouldn’t end well.
Stigandr pointed in the direction of Ponyville, and Scott took off towards the small town. They flew low and silent over the Everfree, neither of them wanting to think, much less talk, about what may have happened to their friend.
“So, do you know what they do with changelings when they capture them?” Scott spoke up, finally asking the question that was on his mind.
“I don’t know,” he answered.
“What?” He asked stunned. “How do you not know?”
“They never covered it in the show!”
“What about all those brony writers?!”
“They’re not canon!” He yelled, shaking his hooves.
“What!”
“That’s what people think goes on.”
“So, what about the clopfics?” The griffon asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Scott... Shut up and fly.” The unicorn groaned, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
They were most of the way to ponyville, when they heard someone shout ‘LOOK OUT!’ There was a thud, followed by a lot of falling and yelling, and a lot of swearing.

------

Scott was anxious to check out of the hospital, having been stuck there all night worrying about his friends. Of course, hearing about Ancro’s antics at the castle wasn’t comforting. The changeling had never known much restraint in a fight. The paper, or at least from what he gathered by questioning those reading it, had said it was a miracle that nopony was seriously hurt. They said he had been captured, and was being held in a prison.
He knew he needed to head back to Canterlot and free his friend. He still needed to find that book too. After some consideration he got up and headed towards the door. He eagerly walked out of the building, thankful that the door was open. Walking on clouds was bad enough, but if he had to turn one more cloud door knob…
“Excuse me, sir!” A pegasus he immediately recognized as his nurse interrupted his thoughts.
“Yes?” He turned around to face her, a task that had steadily gotten easier over the last month. When he first came to Equestria, he had been falling all over himself, and out of the sky.
“The name of the pony who paid your bill, you asked for it.”
“OH! Yes, well durh, what is it?” he asked, gaining a wince from the confused nurse and most of the nearby ponies. Scott isn't what you would call subtle.
“Yeah, well her name is Rainbow Dash.” She handed him a picture of her for good measure as if the name wasn’t enough. He was hoping it was a different pony, and that they just had a similar or identical name. He thanked the nurse and left, barely hiding his frustration. Of all the ponies that had saved him, it was Rainbow Dash, the one he believed adamantly to be a lesbian. Also a member of the mane six that Ancro had told him to avoid contacting for complicated interdimensional reasons involving balance and eternal champions and big universal words. He barely made the mandatory sanity check after that conversation.
First thing he knew he had to do though was track down Stigs. He knew alone he couldn’t break into what he assumed was a maximum security prison, even if it was probably ponified. To track down Stigandr, he needed to find out where he crashed. Right now the only one who knew that helpful tidbit was Rainbow Dash. He sighed with a shrug, what Ancro didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. He spread his wings and let out an eagle cry as he took off towards ponyville.




(Thanks to my friend Sara for cover art (shaya.laperro@gmail.com) and editing before I went back and mucked it up. Feedback is always enjoyable lets me know where I need improvement and helps me right a better story for your entertainment. Any questions or suggestions or anything just message me.)

> Jerks, Hospitals, and Visitors
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Triumvirate

Scott landed on the outskirts of Ponyville so as to not draw attention to himself. Unfortunately, a griffon is fairly easy to notice in a town full of ponies, so his clever plan had failed. It wasn’t long before ponies were casting him curious glances. He tried to stay focused on looking for Rainbow Dash, who might know where they had their collision. Right now, Stigandr was his top priority. Then, rescuing Ancro before he did anything rash or crazy…well crazier. Then, back to finding a way home, and to save the pony world.
He started asking questions around town, seeing if anypony (a term he was finding annoying to use) had seen her. After about thirty unsuccessful minutes, he sat down at a café and browsed the menu. No point in looking on an empty stomach. He was very grateful that their number system was the same, or at least he hoped, and with pictures. All he was trying to do was look busy, and not like a crazy stalker maniac.
“HI!” His vision was suddenly flooded with a pink pony, an upside down pink pony who was staring directly into his eyes. He understandably fell onto his back, clutching his chest, trying to make sure his heart was still beating, he was comforted by the fact that it was. He stared at the pink earth pony, with the three-balloon cutie mark, as she bounced in place staring at him with a ridiculously wide grin on her face.
“What the heck was that about?!” He shouted,  “are you trying to kill me?!”
“What? Of course not silly, why would I do that? I’ve never, ever seen you before and that means you haven’t met me, and that means we aren’t friends yet, which means we are going to be friends. I’m Pinkie Pie. What’s your name?”
“Scott,” he said, trying to keep pace with Pinkie Pie’s thousand words a minute.
Upon hearing his name, the pony sat down with an intense look in her eyes. She had one hoof tapping on her head, while her other front hoof supported her…knee? Elbow? He hadn’t had the courage to ask any pony about their anatomy. 
“Hmmmmmmmm…well drat. I can’t come up with a song for you.”
“Wha?”
“Oh you know, a song for when I meet somepony, donkey, or griffon new, I try to come up with one for each pony I meet.” Pinkie spoke as though this was a perfectly normal thing. He was sure Ancro would get along great with her; if he wasn’t sure he would be overloaded from the sheer amount of energy she was giving off. He swore it was palpable, he resisted the urge to see if it was, and realized why this pony was familiar. She was on the dang show. Well, as far as he knew, everypony was on the dang show, but this was one of the 'mane' cast ponies. Which meant she may provide him with a way to find Rainbow Dash! That is if she would stop talking for five seconds about how she already knew everypony. What the hell was a chimmey-cherry-chunga?
He grabbed the blabbing mare by the face, careful not to use his talons his extremely sharp talons, and closed her mouth. It still didn’t stop her from continuing to try to talk, but it let him get a word in.
“Do you know where I can find Rainbow Dash?” he asked, and she nodded her head. When he was sure the answer was yes, that Pinkie Pie knew where she was, he let go of her mouth. He realized he just broke the rule Ancro made about interacting with the mane six, and then remembered he was going to do it anyway.  She kept talking as she bounded off, with Scott close behind doing a careful lookout for any ultra-horrific consequences. So far, nothing exploding or rips in reality.

Shining Armor walked into Ancro’s cell to perform its daily recharge. Shining narrowed his eyes when he saw what the changeling was doing, Ancro was standing on his rear legs and hitting the shield with his front legs.
“Hit it all you want, you won’t get out,” he said confidently. He had no love for changelings. After what they did to Cadence, and after this one impersonated his sister, it was to be expected.
“I’m not trying to break out, Shiny,” he said, continuing the barrage against the pink wall. “I’m merely staying in shape for when I do.”
“You won’t,” he said as his horn charged and a beam of pink blasted the dome. “It took an entire army to break the spell when your kind attacked, you alone cannot do it.”
“Of course I can do it. I’m perfect.”
“Sure you are.” Shining armor turned to leave.
“Give my regards to your wife,” Ancro called back, continuing to box the shell. He tasted the disdain the captain of the royal guard had shot him. He’d have to send him some flowers when Scott and Stigandr broke him out. The door slammed shut, and he was left alone again, or so he thought. 
“My, my, my, you really got under his skin,” he saw his translucent reflection say, as it steadily changed. The voice and the change both excited and terrified Ancro to no end. If you had to ask Ancro, the sci-fi nerd, a question of Star Trek or Star Wars, he would say Trekkie. If you asked him which series, it would be TNG, and if you asked him his favorite character, he would say Q. The reasoning behind his reaction should be painfully clear.
“D-did you enjoy the show?” He asked trying desperately to regain control of himself.
“Oh, it was positively divine, never before had I borne witness to such primal madness. Well, except for that last time I was out, and Screwball was born... but still, you do know how to put on a show.” The reflection clapped his mismatched limbs. “it was the most fun I’ve had since I was imprisoned…again.”
“Wanna talk about it?”  He asked sarcastically, trying desperately not to squee. “I’m an excellent listener.”
“No, I assure you I’m quite alright.”
“Alright, I’m here if you need an ear to talk to.” The changeling went back to shadow boxing. He suddenly stopped and turned to face the draconequus, who had taken to lying in a hammock. “I’m not trying to be rude, but how are you here? I mean how is it possible, shouldn’t you be petrified?”
“This is just a projection. I am still encased in stone, in the middle of the gardens,” he answered, not even trying to hide his disdain. “I shouldn’t even be able to do this, actually, and I wouldn’t... if it weren’t for your actions.” The changeling raised an eyebrow at the perceived compliment, from DISCORD. “Well, your kind actually started it, and gave me back some level of my senses. Then, when you started that ruckus the other night, I became able to do this.”
Ancro chuckled, keeping his boxing routine going. Discord just nodded, with an arrogant grin on his face. “Glad I could make your sentence more enjoyable.”
“I’m glad also, human.” Ancro stopped, midswing, upon hearing discord say that. He kept thinking it was to be expected that the spirit of chaos would know such things. He half expected him to be the reason he was in Equestria. “Oh, don’t worry. I know the rule. You can’t speak about where you’re from. It forces you to lie, and into so many awkward circumstances.”
“So, you know what I am,” Ancro said, regaining his composure. “What does it matter?”
“It means I can get you home,” he answered pointedly.
“Really, I’m intrigued. How?” The changeling put one of his hooves under his chin in thought.
“I’m the spirit of chaos and disharmony, of not just this plane but multiple; it wouldn’t be very difficult to open a door back to good old earth.” Discord slithered around the bubble. “All you have to do, is release me.”
“And why would I do that?” Ancro laughed. Discord looked baffled. He flipped down some glasses, and began looking through note cards he had pulled from behind his back.
“Didn’t I just explain that I could take you home?”
“Oh yes you did, but I’m not likely to leave Equestria in the talons and claws of you,” Ancro said defiantly, to an increasingly shocked Discord. He opened his mouth as though to speak, but nothing came out. “Plus, you probably have a plan worked out to deal with the elements, so the answer is no.”
Discord stood in stunned silence when he finally spoke it was with a bitter tone. “Fine then, but don’t come running back to me if you want my help.” The reflection faded, and turned back to his own. “By the way, I’m a very unfortunate enemy to make, and we both know you will starve in here.”

Stigandr clattered down the hall with the walker that had been given to him as part of his physical therapy. He loved magic. They had been healing him amazingly quickly, and he was supposed to be leaving in a week. One week too long, in his opinion. He had been doing everything he could to hurry along his physical recovery, even if it was against the doctor’s orders.
“Mister Stigandr, in all my years of practicing medicine, I have never had a patient pull more stunts than you. You are by far, worse than Rainbow Dash,” he said, standing over the injured pony as he continued to reach for his walker with speed that Granny Smith could surpass. “I’m afraid anymore incidents, and we may have to sedate you.”
'Dang...' Stigandr thought, 'almost made it to the doorway that time'. On the plus side, he felt a small twinge of pride in hearing that he had one-upped Rainbow Dash. He was beginning to go a bit nuts, trapped in the hospital with nopony to really talk to. Granted, they had been kind enough to bring him copies of preschool-level pony books so he could learn how to read, or at least try to learn to read. It had been slow going, and several times he had to ask a very stunned nurse what 'that word' was. It was, to put it bluntly, awkward, his brown coat tinged red from blushing, as it turned out the word had been a painfully simple one.

“But ah don’t wanna...” rasped an adorable Southern voice approaching the door to Stigandr’s room, his ears perked up as he tried to place.
“Ah no ya don’t want ta; but yer tonsils have ta come out.” He immediately recognized the voice of Applejack.
“Whyyy?” He deduced that meant the other voice was Applebloom.
“Because, sugar cube, if they don’t come out then they’re gonna keep making ya sick.” Apple Jack sighed like a big sister who had already explained this a thousand times before.
“When do ah get mah ice cream?”
“Ahfter you get them out.” She sighed outside his door before opening it.
“Okay...” Applebloom sighed, as she walked into the room.
“See, ya’ll even have a roommate,” she said, trying to cheer up her sister. Her grimace and tone betrayed her, though.
“Hellooo,” Stigandr said in a comically deep voice.
“Howdy,” Applejack said, tipping her hat to him.
“Hi,” Rasped Applebloom. “What happened to ya?”
“Applebloom, now don’t be rude, he may not want ta talk about it,” Applejack said, covering her sister’s mouth. “Ah’m sorry bout that.”
“It’s okay,” he answered, waving his hoof. “I don’t mind.”
“Well, if it ain’t a problem.” Applejack shrugged. “ahnd  ah was a bit curious mahself.”
Stigandr chuckled, which he stopped when he felt some pain. “Well me and a friend were flying a few nights ago, and he dropped me when somepony crashed into him.”
“How high up were ya?” Applebloom asked.
“High enough to break everything,” he joked, barely containing the squee as he saw a smile creep onto Applebloom’s face, “but never mind me, what are you here for?”
“Tonsils,” she rasped.
“Don’t worry about those,” he said lightheartedly, “you wanna know the best part?”
Applebloom nodded her head, and Stigandr waved her in closer until she got her ear practically next to his mouth. “When they get taken out, you get all the ice cream you want.”
Applebloom’s eyes lit up upon hearing this news.
“Applejack, really?” She rasped.
“Of course, sugar cube.” She chuckled. “I was tryin ta keep it a surprise, but geuss the apple’s out of the barrel. Pinkie Pie was planning on throwin' ya a surprise party. Guess it’s not a surprise anymore.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to ruin the surprise,” he apologized.
“It’s ahlright,” she said. “We were bending over backwards trying ta keep her from findin' out.” She chuckled lightly. “Didn’t catch your name, by the way.”
“It’s Stigandr,” he said. “I’d shake your hoof, but as you can see...”
“Ah understand. What brings ya ta Ponyville? Aside from the obvious.”
“Well, right now just the obvious. I have to get out of here as soon as possible and find my friends.”
“Really, who are they, if ya don’t mind me me askin'?”
“Well, one of them is in Canterlot,” he said with a sigh. “and I hope the other one is in Ponyville.”
“Hope?”
“Yeah, kinda lost track of him after he dropped me.”
“Well, tell me what he looks lahk, ah might be able to russel him up fer ya?”
“Well, you can’t really miss him. He’s a griffon. Loud, obnoxious, rude.” He laughed, then saw the increasingly confused look of the orange earth pony's face. “...But he’s my friend, and he’s always a good laugh to have around.”
“Okay, ah’ll keep an eye out fer him.” She shook her head, “Betcha if he’s a griffon, he’s with…”

“RAINBOW DASH!!” Pinkie Pie shrieked at the floating cloud house. “RAINBOW DASH!!”
Scott was standing behind her, spacing out at the cloud house with a rainbow water fall. He was wondering what it looked like when high…not that he ever did anything like that, it was just an entertaining idea. It was at this time that he stood up and flew up, landed on the cloud doormat, knocked on the door, and passed his san checks like a boss while he leaned against one of the columns. The door flung itself open and hit him in the face; however, since it was a cloud door, there was only a 'pfft' noise as his beak stuck comically through the semi-tangible doorway. It felt like being covered in wet spider webs.
“Hello?” Rainbow Dash said, looking out the doorway. “Oh, hi Pinkie, how did you knock on my door?”
The pink party pony was on her back, laughing too hard to do anything but point at Scott, who failed a san check as he flew off screaming in the opposite direction, then landed on some nice hard solid, tangible, should exist, ground. He hugged it and tore into the grass and the dirt, kissing it like it was a long lost lover. It was five minutes before he noticed he was being watched. 
“Is he going to be okay?” Rainbow Dash asked
“I don’t know; think I should introduce him to Screw Loose?” Pinkie whispered.
Scott stood up and quickly brushed himself off. “Sorry about that.”
“Is everything alright?” Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” Pinkie Pie asked, and bounced into view. “Cause you kind just ran off like that, and I was thinking, since you’re obviously not a meanie mcmeaniepants like Gilda.” Rainbow Dash snorted for some reason. “Are you a crazy mccloudphobia pants?”
“No, it’s nothing.” He grumbled, desperately trying to keep himself together amidst the bouncing and hovering ponies, san check passed. “Now, you crashed into me the other night, and I was carrying my friend. Since you’re the reason I dropped him, I think you should be the one to help me find him.” Yeah, he knew it was an accident, but still... He had just had a break down, and he genuinely felt like being a jerk to the pony he swore was a lesbian.
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that,” Rainbow Dash said, looking slightly depressed and rubbing her hoof behind her head. “I was practicing a new trick and didn’t see you.”
“Well, be more careful.” He snapped.
“He is turning out to be a meanie mcmeaniepants, after all,” Pinkie whispered to Dash. The pink pony then jumped to an inconceivable height and ran off.

(Once again going to thank my artist/editor Sara for making it grammatically correct and readable for commissions contact her at shaya.laperro@gmail.com . Like to thank my best  friends that I have known for years for not complaining for me writing them into a story. Been having fun writing this so far and have not been able to really put down my laptop to stop also I’m starting a new job at a factory so I may be getting less time to do my writing. Any questions or suggestions message me and I need feedback, it lets me know I’m doing a good job and keeps my fragile ego intact.)

> Petrification, Pain, and Parties
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Triumvirate part 4 

“What kind of name is Scott?” Rainbow Dash asked, as they flew low over the Everfree forest. She had already decided not to make fun of Scott’s flying ‘skills’, which, to put it bluntly, were all flash and no bang. 
“The one my parents gave me,” he said bitterly, flying a bit higher, taking advantage of his eagle eyes. Something he was enjoying about Equestria was that he did not have to wear glasses or contacts anymore. He was digging that bit.
“Y’know,” Rainbow Dash said, looking up towards him, “we’re in the Everfree, clouds act funnier here.”
“I just prefer to not touch them,” he shivered.
“You can’t. We’re in the Everfree.” She shuddered a bit. “Plants don’t need help growing, animals take care of themselves, and the clouds move all by themselves. It’s creepy because you can’t really touch them, you just kind of go straight through them.”
Scott felt a small twinge of delight, and went barreling through the next cloud like it was condensed water vapor, which it was. There wasn’t a 'pfft' noise or a hole left behind by him. He never thought he’d be so happy to see that. He grinned nervously as Rainbow Dash lifted an eyebrow after his experiment.
“Okay…are you sure you’re alright,” she asked taking her hoof and pointing it at her head. “ummm, upstairs?”
“Yeah, never better,” The griffin answered feeling truly relaxed and unwinding, “So how much further?”
“Not much. We’re almost there, you were pretty lucky actually.” Rainbow Dash explained, “you were on the outskirts of the Everfree forest when I crashed into you. “
“And that means?”
“Well, it means if we’re lucky, somepony already found your friend.”
“And if we’re not?”
“Well…let’s just say it’s a good chance somepony found him.” She laughed nervously, and began to pick up her pace as Scott struggled to keep up behind her.

“Well, here we are,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Is this the exact spot?” Scott practically demanded, pointing his talons at the ground for emphasis on the location.
“Well yeah, you don’t think I’d lead you on a wild goose chase and cut into my nap time?”
“Whatever. Do you know where I could’ve dropped him?” He said, looking around for any Stigandr-shaped holes in the canopy.
“I don’t know, I was too busy hauling your heavy tail to the Cloudsdale hospital,” she responded, zooming around the canopy. “It’s okay, I’m sure we’ll find your friend.”
“We better,” he growled, picking through foliage trying to get a better look at the ground. “Thanks for the save by the way.”
“It’s okay, wasn’t a problem at all,” she responded. “You’re not that heavy. Okay, maybe a bit, just wish I saw your friend.” She noticed the griffin hang his head. “I’m sure he’s alright though, I mean he’s a unicorn, he has that magic and stuff.”
*Ba-Bawk*
“What the heck was that?” Scott asked, raising his head from the trees.
“Sounded like a chicken.”
“You guys have wild chickens out here?”
“Not that I know of. It’s probably one of Fluttershy’s that got out,” she said, looking down towards the ground. “She doesn’t live far from here.”
“Okay,” he answered apathetically. 
*Ba-Ba-Bawk*
He kept looking as the chicken grew closer. He started to tear branches down, growing more frustrated, trying to find any sign of Stigs. He landed on the ground, hoping to see if another perspective would help. It didn’t, but he did find the chicken. At least... a statue of a chicken, like one somebody would use as a yard decoration, only a lot more detailed.
“Hey, Rainbow Dash, come check this out!” He yelled, picking it up and admiring the detail. He’d have to meet the sculptor and see if he could get some commission minis out of him. The rainbow-maned mare poked her head out of a tree and looked at the statue curiously. 
“What is that?” She asked, flying closer.
“Some statue I found down here,” he said, looking at the individual feathers sculpted perfectly onto the chicken. He may need to stay in Equestria after all, if only to get some gaming figs done. Secretly, he told Games Workshop to suck it. If he could find the right pony, he’d have his entire army done for nothing. “Know the pony who made it?”
“No, but it looks really good.”
*Ba-Ba-Bawk!*
“Guess that chicken’s still out here,” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Maybe it was looking for a friend.” A glance from Scott silenced it.
There was rustling in the bushes behind them, so they both turned around and saw the head of the chicken poking out. Scott couldn’t put his talon on it, but something was off about the farm fowl. Than it stepped out of the bushes and he remembered birds weren’t supposed to have teeth, or long reptile tongues, or reptile bodies. San check passed.
“What is that?” Scott said, looking over to Rainbow Dash who was still as a statue for some reason, probably because she was a statue. He failed his next san check as he turned to stone, screaming as loud as he could. 



A cool wave of power washed over Ancro. It started out on the fringes as a tingling sensation, than he began to feel himself being pushed back. He stepped away from the edge of the barrier as the presence approached the door to his cell. He felt his stomach start to churn a bit as a somewhat familiar vice enclosed around his temples. He wasn’t sure if it was affecting him worse because he was getting weaker, or because this one showed a lot less restraint. He was hoping it was the prior. The door opened and a deep blue alicorn, with a flowing mane that consisted of the night sky itself, stood there. It took him a moment to recognize Luna.
“How may I help you, your highness?” Ancro asked, taking a step back as she entered the room. Each step she took, he matched backwards, an extremely uneasy feeling to one who favors standing their ground. She stepped to the edge of the bubble as he reached the other edge.
“Why doth thou step away from us?” She asked, a hard look in her eyes.
“That’s rude, I asked first.” He recognized the familiar pain of a migraine creeping up on him. 
“We wish to ask thou several questions,” She said in her regal tone. “Starting with why thou backed away from us, but not our sister.”
“I have my reasons,” he said, staring at the floor. Even looking at her was painful.
“And those are?”
“Mine and mine alone; just get on with the interrogation, so I may continue my time here in peace,” Ancro practically pleaded. 
“Very well.” She was kind enough to change the tone in her voice to slightly more concerned. “Is there anything I can get you?”
“Yeah, one million bits and a ticket home.” He smirked; the migraine hadn’t dampened his sarcasm.  Something that he swiftly regretted. “If you could take a few steps back, that should help.”
The princess stepped backwards about five feet, and Ancro breathed a sigh of relief as his pain became bearable.
“Thou are unlike any changeling that has been encountered before. Why is that.”
“Oh princess, you jump straight to the hard questions,” he said, trying to collect himself. “Why do you think that is?”
“We have no idea.” Her answer was deliberate and to the point as she inched forward, gaining a glare from the changeling. “Why don’t thou enlighten us?” 
“I’d love to, but unfortunately I can’t.” He practically whispered, forcing a smirk as the imaginary vice closed around his temples, and his insides started to churn.
“We do not like to play games, changeling.” It may have only been a toned-down Canterlot Royal voice, but it echoed around the bubble, creating a new nightmarish hell on his senses. Seeing sound was a sickening sensation. “We wish to know why thou were in our library, and what become of thy compatriots.”
Ancro did the only thing he could do while the sound echoed around the bubble; lie on the ground, cover his ears, close his eyes and pray that she goes away. It didn’t work, and all this did was make her press harder. A painfully audible ringing grew in his ears as Luna walked through the bubble, and whatever was left of his rational mind had fled from the agony. Inside his mind he was screaming for her to go away, but dared not open his mouth, knowing it would only add to his suffering.
Luna stood directly over the changeling as he lie there, virtually incapacitated, covering his ears and squeezing his eyes tight. She leaned down closer to him and he flinched away, pushing against the bubble.  He was whispering something. She leaned in closely, then noticed the tears rolling down his cheeks. She leaned forward and her horn started to glow. 
Ancro went over the edge. He blindly lashed out at the princess. He screamed as his hoof went towards what he hoped was her horn, the air whistling through the holes in his leg. He felt slight contact, and her presence backed off a small bit. Ancro forced one eye open half-way, and felt as if he was going to vomit again.
“GO AWAY!” He screamed to the stunned princess before buckling and sobbing in the fetal position. “Just go away... Please.”
Luna took several steps back from the sobbing changeling. What she had first thought was fear, she realized was pain. Changelings are deceptive by nature, but she felt confident in her ability to tell the difference between fake pain and real suffering, this was definitely the latter. Without saying another word, Luna left the room.
He still cried after she left. He had dealt with migraines for years, none this severe. However, from what he knew of his mother’s and sister’s migraines, even though the cause was gone, the after affects would remain.


Stigandr put down his copy of the pony alphabet book on the night stand by his bed. He looked over at the sleeping Applebloom and thought ‘dawww’. The tonsillectomy had been a success, as they are apt to be. He needed to remember to thank her for helping him learn to read. He was still a long way off from the books at the Canterlot library, but he was off to what he hoped was a good start. Confident, he rolled over and went to sleep.
His sleep was interrupted by the sound of the window creaking open. He rolled over lazily to see why it had done that, but when he looked over he saw nothing…Nothing but a pink pony in a black ninja outfit hauling a freezer through the window. He calmly blinked multiple times to make sure he was awake. He was about to say something, but the pink ninja was in his face, and put a hoof over her mouth and made the ‘shush’ signal. Well, as close as you could get without fingers. She reached into the freezer and pulled out a bowl of ice cream, and handed it to him with a spoon. Then there was a crash as two more pony ninjas came into the window, one a white unicorn, the other a tangerine pegasus, and fell from the window sill. They noisily fumbled for footing, stepping all over each other as they also tried to untie their safety harnesses. The pink ninja made the same ‘shushing’ motion, except without the offer of ice cream this time. The two ponies got the message and stopped making noise. Instead, they stood there, tangled in the safety ropes.
The pink one walked over and pulled a single part of the rope and they came twirling undone, standing atop her hooves in poses reminiscent of a Renascence sculpture. Then, ever so silently, they pushed the freezer over to the bed of the sleeping Applebloom. All the while, Stigandr did his best not to laugh, occasionally getting a shush from the pink ninja. He looked up at the clock and in the dim light, made out that the sun was about to come up and smiled as the ninjas silently removed their out fits revealing them to be none other than Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.
Pinkie looked at him, confused, than at her hoof, than back at him, than at her hoof one last time. She eyed him suspiciously, then walked over and looked him over, pulling out a large magnifying glass from…somewhere. 
“May I help you?” Stigandr asked, starting to feel a bit awkward, staring into her heavily magnified eye.
“Nope,” she said, not even blinking.
“Are you sure?”
“Yep.”
“Alrighty then, so I guess I should just be sitting here?” He said, levitating his book over to himself. “Reading my book.”
“Yep,” she said, sounding somewhat distracted as she kept staring at him, at every minuscule detail.
*Psssst* 
Pinkie Pie looked over towards Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, as they dove behind a curtain as Applebloom started to stir. In a flash of pink smoke, the pony vanished to somewhere as Applebloom woke up and tried to yawn, but all that came out was an adorable squeak. He saw the confusion in her eyes as she tried to ask a question but all that came out was another squeak. Stigandr did a countdown in his head. 3…2…1… The world exploded in a blast of confetti and streamers as the party cannon fired out the top of the fridge.
“SURPRISE!” The trio jumped out from their hiding places and Pinkie Pie from apparent thin air much to the delight of the Apple Bloom. Stigandr lay on his bed and smiled happily.

(Once again going to thank my artist/editor Sara for making it grammatically correct and readable for commissions contact her at shaya.laperro@gmail.com . Like to thank my best  friends that I have known for years for not complaining for me writing them into a story. Been having fun writing this so far and have not been able to really put down my laptop to stop also I’m starting a new job at a factory so I may be getting less time to do my writing. Any questions or suggestions message me and I need feedback, it lets me know I’m doing a good job and keeps my fragile ego intact.)

> Suffering, pinkie senses, stone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Triumvirate 5


In the throne room of the Canterlot palace a lone dark alicorn’s horn glows as she performs the impossible task of lowering the moon and making way for her sister’s sun. Her sister approached from behind her ready to raise the sun.
“Tia,” Luna asked her sister when she walked into the throne room for the day. “I-I visited the changeling.”
“Is something wrong Luna?” Celestia asked smiling warmly.
“He was crying the entire time.” She said hanging her head. “In agony.”
“Luna, tell me what happened.” Her sister asked concerned.
“I walked into the cell and it started off as you said it would, he was…”
“Disrespectful, smart-assed, annoying.” She said with a warm smile trying to coax her sister along.
“Yes,” Luna answered smiling slightly. “But when we approached him he started to cry, at first we thought it was fear, but as we got closer he kept getting worse. Than when we were going cast a spell to calm him, he lashed out at us.”
Celestia’s eye opened slightly more upon hearing this. “He attacked you?”
“Yes, it was a weak blow it wouldn’t have hurt a foal.” She said showing her sister where he had hit, even though you couldn’t prove it.
“Than what happened?”
“He begged us to leave.”


“You are not looking so well,” Discord blatantly pointed out from the reflection of the bubble. Ancro imagined he wasn’t looking well, since it felt like he had a spiked clamp around his temples. The migraines had been getting progressively worse each time somepony stepped where he could detect them. He was genuinely surprised that Discord’s voice or presence didn’t do anything to make it worse. “If you want, I can get you a glass of water.”
“Really?” He asked, turning his head, cringing as he felt the shield pulse. He had never been this weak before, not to the point where he couldn't put up a block against spells. He laughed on the inside when he realized that it was his own damn fault for burning out in the library. Otherwise, he would’ve been fine. 
“…No,” he answered, taking a drink of a glass while the contents remained still. “I’m impressed though, you took a swing at Luna last night. Wasn’t expecting that.”
“I was getting desperate,” he chuckled weakly. He winced as he felt a presence enter his area, each step closer was another drum beat on his head. Discord vanished with a flash as the door opened. In zipped a very skinny pegasus with a camera. He tasted a cocktail of fear, excitement, and anxiety as the pegasus colt buzzed around, snapping pictures like he was on drugs or something. He just did what he would typically do in this situation. Well, not typically, since he had a migraine. Vomiting from a bright light flashing in his face was not on his repertoire.   He did, however, manage to strike a pose for a few seconds, much the camera pony's shock and glee. There was nothing better to him than a child’s joy.
“HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!” Just when Ancro thought his head had hit precipice pain, Shining Armor made his grand entrance. Wow, was it loud... He summoned two additional guards, who escorted the pony outside after taking his camera. Shiny was mad. He could feel the rage directed at him, which only made his migraine worse.
“Thanks Shiny, I owe you one,” Ancro said, in a voice that would’ve made Fluttershy seem loud. He felt the magic charging for his shield. “Please, don’t...” The unicorn didn’t listen and charged the shield anyway. Ancro let out an agonized wail as his pain doubled.
“Nopony’s buying it, changeling, so you can cut the act,” was all Shining Armor said as he walked out of the cell.
“Not an act,” Ancro mumbled from the ground.
“That looked extremely painful,” Discord said from behind him. “I mean, even I’m taking aspirin after watching that.”
“Shut up.” Even though Discord’s voice didn’t cause him any pain, it was still agitating and he was doing everything he could to try to keep his blood pressure down.
“Why would I do something silly like that, human?” He asked, floating around the walls. Ancro closed his eyes again.
“Because if you were suffering, I’d leave you alone?” Ancro pleaded.
“Well, without proper proof, I’m afraid I cannot oblige.” He couldn’t see his face, but knew Discord was grinning wickedly. Ancro cringed as another presence approached the hallway to his cell; it had painful levels of confidence and some satisfaction. Discord vanished just as the door opened.
“Wow, someone’s seen better days,” said a layered voice.



The party was going as well as an ice cream party in a hospital will go. There were balloons, dancing, ice cream, streamers, ice cream, confetti, and ice cream. It wasn’t long until the rest of the mane six showed up, excluding Rainbow Dash. Stigandr was left hanging when it came to meeting the fastest pegasus in Equestria. He was somewhat disappointed.
“Here ya go,” the familiar voice of Twilight Sparkle said, walking over to Stigandr, two bowls of ice cream levitating behind her. “What happened to you? If you don’t mind me asking, that is?”
“I fell,” Stigandr answered, picking up the spoon with his magic and eating some ice cream.
“From what, the bell tower?”
“No, a friend dropped me when we were flying over Everfree. I would’ve been a goner had Fluttershy not found me,” he said, pointing his horn to the yellow pegasus.
“It was nothing really,”  she mumbled, staring at the floor and crossing her hooves, looking so adorable.
“Nothing! You saved his life, Fluttershy!” Rarity encouraged.
“Yeah, thank you,” Stigandr said warmly, trying to do everything in his power to keep the painfully adorable pony from running off. Granted, it wasn’t a lot, but still.
“This calls for a party!” Pinkie Pie declared, firing her party cannon, doubling the decorations.
“What were yah doing out in the Everfree that late anyway, Fluttershy?” Applejack inquired.
“Oh, well you see... I was out giving the chickens a midnight snack and one of them, Elizabeak, got out and I went looking for her.” She spoke barely audibly over the background noise of a light breeze. “So I was out there looking for her, when I heard a lot of shouting and some other things, then you came crashing down from the sky. At first I was going to run, but then thought, 'what if it’s somepony that needs my help?' So I walked towards the sounds, and found you there.”

Pinkie Pie kept watching Stigandr throughout the whole party, only taking her eyes off him to serve ice cream, then she immediately turned back to him like she half expected him to be gone. Even with his walker, she’d be on him before he left. Hell, not even Rainbow Dash could outrun her. She was Pinkie Pie, and she was everywhere. Including in his face, violating every possible personal boundary as she kept staring at him.
“Are you sure there’s nothing you need help with?” He asked for the umpteenth time.
“Yep. You wouldn’t by chance know that Jerky McCrazyPants Scott would you?”
“Griffin?”
“Mmmhhmm.”
“Freaked out by clouds?”
“Yep.”
“Demanding, with a bit of a short temper?”
“That’s the one,” she said cheerfully.
“Yeah, I know him. Do you know where he is?” He felt like being unnecessarily thorough, to drag out conversation with Pinkie Pie. 
“With Rainbow Dash in the Everfree forest, looking for somepony,” she said plainly.
“Ummm... Pinkie Pie.”
“Yes, Stiggy?” She asked, cocking her head to the side with a wide grin.
“How did y-...Never mind, I’m the one their looking for.”
“Oh yeah, I know that, silly. That’s why my hoof is burning. It was burning when I was taking him to see Rainbow Dash.”
“Burning hoof?”
“Yes, not quite sure what it means though. Just happens around you and Scott,” she said, looking a tad confused, then her face lit up.
“So, you’ve never had this happen before?” Twilight came over and asked, looking like she was about to take notes. Then she magic’d herself a notepad and pencil. It appeared she still hadn’t given up entirely on the Pinkie Sense yet. “Can you describe it?”
“It’s kind of a... Tingly-wingly, burny-werny feeling around the joint,” she said, poking it as Twilight eagerly began to magic it. “It never happened before yesterday.”
“And you don’t know what this one means?”
“Nope,” she squeaked, and bounced off to eat an impossible amount of ice cream.
“And ...That doesn’t bother you?”
“Let your dear old aunty Pinkie Pie tell you something,” she said, wrapping a foreleg around her friend. “When I had my first combo, or first Pinkie sense, I had no idea what it was. Then a safe fell on my head.”
“A safe…”
“Yep! So the next time my tail twitched, I avoided the anvil.”
“Anvil?”
“Yeah, somepony was doing a horrible job as a mover...” She said, rubbing her head. There was a long awkward pause.
“So…where are they?” Stigandr asked, hoping that they had given up. There was a pause as they all looked at each other, and a collective ‘Oh crap’ of realization went off in their heads.
“Oh, well I guess they’re still in the Everfree forest,” she said plainly to the shock of everypony. “Oops... That’s bad...”

‘Well, here I am; blind, deaf, numb, paralyzed, and a statue.’ Scott thought. ‘No fanon my ass, there is no way they’d let something like this happen in a little girls' show. What was that, anyway? It must’ve been some chimera-type critter.’
‘Be careful, or I may take offense to that,’ chuckled another voice.
‘well, it’s official, I’m going insane. I have voices in my head. I’m worse off than Ancro.’
‘Oh, you mean your friend, the changeling?’ 
‘Yeah, what kind of voice in my head are you if you don’t even know my friends?’ He thought. ‘Hope he’s doing alright. But it’s okay, he knows the rules for prison: beat the unholy piss out of the biggest thing there, and no one bothers you.’
‘The kind that technically aren’t in your head,’ the other voice said flatly, ‘and he’s not doing that well. Horrible migraine.’
‘Okay, how would a voice in my head know that?’
‘I’m not in your head.’
‘Then where are you?’ He thought of making a sarcastic gesture of looking around, but failed. ‘I don’t see any other place you could be hiding.’
‘I said technically.’ The voice answered with a disappointed sigh, ‘of all the ones I make contact with, it’s the dense one. At least Ancro makes quips and tries to punch royalty.’
‘How do you know what’s going on with Ancro, anyway?’
‘Well, I’ve already been to visit him, and gotten nowhere, so I figured you’re a better bet than the misguided changeling.’
‘What do you mean, been to visit him?’
‘I get around. Anyway, he was relatively tight-lipped about how he knew of…certain things, and it has been a while since I visited your... Plane, dimension, whatever; and was hoping you could enlighten me.’
‘Sure, what do you want to know?’
‘Well first of all, how do you all know that sort of stuff? I’d peek back to earth if I could, but I don’t have the power right now.’
‘Do you honestly want to know?’ Scott said, mentally raising an eyebrow.
‘Yes, and don’t worry you can tell me.’ Scott could tell there was a smile in the blackness. ‘The rules are, you can only tell someone who knows.’
‘Okay, well you see….’ Scott went on into the long explanation of how his friends knew so much. 

‘So…my universe is watched from yours as a show for little girls.’ There was a mental nod from Scott, ‘which is viewed by a large group of adult men who call themselves bronies, and make up fictions about it...’ another nod, ‘and your friends are part of the brony community?’
‘Exactly,’ Scott said, glad to have someone besides his friends that he could talk to about it. He was a bit put down as a pause filled the blackness. ‘Umm, hello?’
Then laughter, hysterical laughter, filled the void of sensory deprivation. ‘This is just, this is just too much... The last time I was there, it was all about this Hannibal guy who had Rome by the throat. How’d that turn out, by the way?’
‘Rome won.’
‘Wow, wasn’t seeing that coming,’ the voice said. Scott pictured the voice rubbing its chin in thought.
‘Yeah, went on to kick ass all over Europe and conquer a good bit of the world.’ Scott chuckled, ‘Don’t remind Ancro though, he hates it when people talk about them.’
‘Why is that, they kill his family or something?’ The voice asked.
‘Wha-...No, no, no, it’s just that he sees them as a bunch of copy cats who never made anything original, all their ideas were stolen from someone they conquered, blah blah. He can really go into it.’
‘Well, that’s interesting, but look at the time…Sorry you can’t, but believe me, I need to be going. Things are going to be getting fairly chaotic in a Canterlot prison in a few days.’
‘What do you mean?’ Scott asked. There was silence, then he remembered Ancor was in a Canterlot prison and became pissed. ‘What do you mean!’

A larger cockatrice stood behind a smaller one, as the smaller one undid its spell on the griffin and Rainbow Dash. The larger one did not look happy. In fact, it looked downright pissed as its eyes burrowed into the head of the smaller one.
Behind the larger one stood six ponies, three unicorns, two earth ponies and one worried looking pegasus.
“Applejack, could explain to me what’s going on?” Rarity asked.
“Ah have no idea, Rarity.” 
“Isn’t it obvious?” Pinkie Pie popped up between the two of them. “Fluttershy got the cockatrice’s mother.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Pinkie Pie, there’s no way that’s what she did.” She looked over at Fluttershy, smiling warmly. “Right Fluttershy?”
“Umm... Actually Twilight, that’s what I did,” she said, showing a slight bit of confidence, but still hiding adorably behind her hair.
“…Oh,” was all the lavender unicorn was able to get out.
Stigandr stood there trying to contain his excitement, because he was about to meet all of the mane six, all of them, and there was Scott frozen in on the ground in stone, his mouth open in a perpetual scream.
“Psst, Pinkie Pie,” Stigandr said, leaning over to the only pony who might fulfill his unusual request.
“What’s up, Stiggy?”
“Do you have any ear plugs?”
“Yeah, I have stashes of earplugs all over Ponyville, and in some parts of the Everfree, in case of earplug emergency,” She reached into a bush and pulled out a box of earplugs, “why?”
“Just a hunch,” he said as he levitated them to everypony. “Scott can be a bit loud.”
“I know that silly, but how loud could he be?”
“Trust me.”
“Okaaay,” she said, putting them in, as the rest of the group skeptically followed suit as the stone broke. Scott had been frozen mid-scream, and was screaming and swearing when he was being unpetrified. The earplugs were a good bet. Still louder than hell, though.

(Good news got the job at the factory and with the way it’s scheduled I should still have time to write just not as much which is okay because I’m honestly able to get these chapters done in just a few hours. As long as I avoid typing my way into a corner that is. Credits for editing and cover art go to my wonderful friend Sara to contact her for commissions email he at shaya.laperro@gmail.com. I’m going to thank my friends who inspired the characters of this story for not taking any sort of offense to me casting them in this setting. Criticism and comments as always are enjoyed, if you fav it please like it.)


> Interested parties, sympathy, and cadence
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Triumvirate Part 6


“I mean, I don’t know if you’ve heard this, but you look like crap,” the changeling said to Ancro, looking at him speculatively. All Ancro could do was groan. “I mean seriously, you look like you’ve been through the ringer.”
After a few seconds of silence, he continued, “anyway, we heard about what you did to the guards. Way to stick it to the ponies!” The changeling hit the bubble with his hoof, gaining a pained yelp from Ancro. “What’s wrong with you? Did you like, burn out or something?”
Ancro nodded slowly and pitifully.
“Well, it’s to be expected from taking on thirty of Luna’s guards, I guess. Dude, I wish I could’ve seen it.” He made some mock strikes in the air. “I bet you were just tearing them up.”
‘Dear god,’ Ancro thought, ‘are all other changelings like this? He wasn’t even this energetic when he was well.’
“Please be quiet...” Ancro whispered politely, as the changeling continued his boxing movements. 
“Why, what’s wrong? Are you trying to concentrate on some epic spell?”
“Just shut up and go away.”
“Well, at least let me give you the message first.”
“No, just got away.”
“Now wait just a second, it took me a few days to infiltrate this far to be sure you got this letter, and I’m not going anywhere until I deliver it!” The changeling blushed, “as soon as I find out where I put it.” Never before had Ancro had the desire to punch something this bad.
He winced as another presence approached; it was mixed with concern and irritation. Mostly the prior, but as it drew closer it became more irate.
“Shift, what the hell is taking so long?” Asked a decidedly female voice. Or so Ancro thought, he was too busy trying not to vomit from the sudden increase in senses. He never knew how painfully loud their wings were until now.
“Sorry sis, I kinda lost the letter,” the changeling said, blushing slightly.
The other changeling face hoofed. “Then why not say it, you idiot.”
“Well, he kinda kept trying to tell me to shut up, so I couldn’t talk.”
The new changeling smacked her brother on the back of his head, a feeling Ancro was used to, and cleared her throat.
“We’re busting you out of here in three days,” she said, and with what bit of lucidity he had, he thought that was ridiculously over-dramatized.
“Yeah,” Shouted ‘Shift’, causing new pain to shoot through Ancro, “we’re going to start a prison riot!”
“Well we have to get back in positions before the other guards notice we’re gone,” she said, trotting out the door, tugging her brother along with her.
All Ancro could think was, 'Oh my god, I’m going to die.'

“What did I miss?” Discord said, popping up behind him as Ancro lay back down. Well, actually, more of flop onto the ground from his legs giving out on him. He looked over his shoulder, and felt somewhat satisfied that his wing was healed.
“Prison riot in three days,” he whispered, for his own sake. “I’m going to die.”
“Yeah, probably,” Discord said, “but first you have to survive Celestia’s visit.”
“Please tell me you are joking.”
“Maybe. You’ll find out.” Discord smiled. Ancro closed his eyes as the bubble pulsed. “By the way, some very interesting friends you have there.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The griffon, Scott... He is an interesting character.”
“Yeah, he’s a bit of a…wait what do you mean?” Ancro lifted his head slightly and squinted at the translucent reflection.
“I popped out and paid him a visit while you were entertaining your guest.” The draconequus rubbed its chin. “He was quite insightful, and helped. He ran into a cockatrice.”
“Kindred spirit,” he said, breathing heavily, with the intent of insulting Discord while his head throbbed. For a split second, he got the reaction he desired. Then, his face switched to one of mild amusement. 



“Well, we petrified creatures need to stick together.” His smile changed to one of knowing amusement, like someone waiting for a prank to come to fruition. Ancro was about to ask what was going on, but he was too busy screaming. It felt his entire body was being burnt. He tried desperately to back away from the door, but eventually ran into the bubble as Princess Celestia appeared in the doorway. At least, he assumed that was the source of the agonizingly bright light. He decided then and there that he wasn’t going to allow himself to burn out again.

Celestia heard the changeling’s tortured screams and rushed inside to see what the cause was. Nothing screamed like that unless it had absolute cause. The door opened, and revealed nothing but the screaming insectoid on the far wall of the cell. She stepped closer, and Ancro’s screams grew even more horrific as he shrieked for her to go away, while he clutched his head. She turned around and walked out of the cell, unable to feel anything but sorry for it.
When she had left, she gave orders to the guard at the door. “Inform Shining Armor he can go visit his sister in Ponyville, the shield will no longer be necessary to contain the changeling. Also, send a letter to my niece, Cadence. Tell her I would like to ask for her help.”
“Yes, your majesty,” the guard said eagerly, cantering off, not believing how easy its job had just gotten.


A zipper appeared across the griffin’s beak and silenced his extremely loud yelling and swearing. Lots of swearing, swearing the levels of which would make a marine blush, was silenced into an 'mmph'. Granted, a really loud 'mmph'. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, was busy being comforted out of the fetal position. Apparently, a few hours of total sensory deprivation wasn’t good on the normally active pegasus.
“You’ll have to teach me that one, Twilight,” Stigandr said, looking at his friend as he struggled to unzip his mouth. It wasn’t as painful as Scott thought it would be, and he was grateful for that. It was still a sickening sensation having your face reworked like that. He finally managed to unzip his mouth and gasp for air.
“What just happened?” Scott asked, regaining his bearings. Stigandr walked up and put his hoof on Scott’s shoulder.
“You, my friend, were just rescued by Fluttershy because she went and got the cockatrice’s mother,” Stigandr answered, patting his friend on the shoulder, trying to remain stoic about the entire affair.
Scott blinked heavily multiple times. His recently unpetrified brain was having difficulty processing what had happened. “Run that by me again... This time with less crazy, and what the hell is a cockatrice?”
“A cockatrice is that winged... lizard... chicken thing over there.” Stigandr pointed to the pair of things walking away. “The big one is the little one’s mother, and it is very disappointed in its son’s behavior, so she  is going to take him home and ground him to his room.”
“Stigs, I specifically asked for less crazy.” Scott cleaned out his ears with a talon to be sure there wasn’t some sort of pony-only-hear-crazy-bug...wormthing in them. He wouldn’t have been shocked at this point. “And here you are, being more crazy. Please give me something that makes sense.”
“Unicorn magic?” Stigandr shrugged. “Walking on clouds, shape-shifting, green fire, multi-dimensional travel?”
“Shut up,” Scott replied. “Where were you, by the way?”
“The hospital,” Stigandr shrugged, “you?”
“Cloudsdale General. Which reminds me, I need to pay Rainbow Dash back.”
“Rainbow Dash was the one who crashed into us?”
“Yeah, she said she was practicing a new trick.”
“Accidentally crashing into ponies while working on a new trick? Yeah, that happens often enough,” Stigandr chuckled slightly.
“Hey!” That got the rainbow mare out of her fetal position. “I don’t always crash into ponies when a new trick doesn’t work out!”
“Well actually, Rainbow Dash…” Twilight said, pulling out an abacus. “It happens a lot more often than you think…” Scott gawked as the list went on, and kept going on, as they left the Everfree forest, as they went through town, and as they entered a big tree, library.
“Then there was the time you crashed into my store, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said, sitting down on a cushion with a small chuckle.
“Doesn’t count, I didn’t hit anypony,” Rainbow Dash replied, pointing a hoof at the purple unicorn while she hovered in the air.
“True, but you did break my ceiling.”
“Yeah, that was a pretty good hole in your roof,” she chuckled, rubbing her hoof behind her head.
“When will you have the money you owe me, by the way?”
“Umm yeah, about that…” She looked over to the gawking griffin. “I kinda spent it on his hospital bill.”
“Well, just get me the bits as soon as you can." Rarity said rolling her eyes, Scott felt a slight twinge of guilt having cost her the money.
“Twilight! There you are, I’ve been waiting for you all day. Where have you been?” Yelled the voice of a familiar purple dragon, clutching a scroll.
“It’s a long story, Spike. Is that a letter from the princess?” She asked, levitating the scroll.
“No, it’s from Shining Armor. It says that he will be able to come visit you after all,” Spike said gleefully. “But Cadence can’t make it; Celestia needs her for some sort of favor.”
“Did it say what for?”
“No, but he doesn’t sound very happy about it,” Spike finished.
Then the young dragon started gawking at Rarity while she discussed taking Rainbow Dash to the spa to try to fix her skin after its exposure to the stone. At least, that’s what Stigandr saw. What Scott saw were a bunch of ponies and an overgrown talking lizard. The lizard said pony stuff about other lavender pony’s brother, then when he was done, he started checking out the white unicorn. Not being very subtle about it, either.
“What could’ve possibly happened?” Twilight asked aloud.
“Oh! I know, pick me!” Pinkie Pie squealed, waving her front hooves in the air, trying to draw attention to herself. ‘Not that you have to try, you’re a pink pony’ Scott thought, trying to remain tactful.
“What do you mean, Pinkie?”
“It might have something to do with that changeling that they captured.” Scott and Stigandr shared a nervous glance, “it’s not stealing anypony’s love, so it’s probably a lot less dangerous cause it’s hungry.”
“Okay, that doesn’t explain why Princess Cadence couldn’t come,” Twilight said, eyeing the letter confusedly.
“Hmmm…Nothing comes to mind unless she plans to feed it,” Pinkie Pie said, scratching her hoof on her chin.
“What?!” Twilight shouted.
“She could be planning to feed it,” Fluttershy said, hardly audible. “At least, that’s what I would do if they were hungry.”
“Don’t be preposterous, Fluttershy,” Rarity toned in, “after what they did to her, I don’t find it likely.”
“Ah don’t know ‘bout that Rarity, she don’t seem the tahp to hold a grudge,” Applejack stated.
Stigandr was standing off to the side, enjoying watching the ponies, and hoping that they would give him a hint as to his friend’s whereabouts. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and saw Scott motion him over, then followed him outside.
“I know this is all very fun for you, but I have no idea who they are talking about.”
“Okay, Princess Cadence is Celestia’s niece. Her magic is, that she spreads love.” He hoped that it would be explanation enough. It wasn’t.
“Okay, why would she be feeding Ancro?”
“…You’re serious?”
“About what?”
“He needs love and other positive emotions to survive. Do you remember him never eating?”
“…So, how’s he been surviving the past month?” Scott whispered. “I haven’t been…have you?”
Stigandr groaned than collected himself, reminding himself Scott wasn’t a brony. “It’s a different kind of love, kind of a brotherly companionship thing. No homo.”
“Okay, so he’s been feeding off us?”
“Well, what we give him, actually.” Stigandr glanced up to him.
“Okay, but who is Cadence, and why is she feeding him?” He looked at Stigandr and his pupils shrunk. “Oh god, it’s going to be a clopfic, isn’t it.”
“Wha-no!” Stigandr responded, “her magic is that she spreads love.”
“OH... Okay.”
“What are you two doing out here?” Pinkie Pie said, popping up between them. “The party’s inside! Well, it will be, as soon as I fire my party cannon!”
“Party…Cannon?”
“Yeah, I never go anywhere without it.” She stated plainly, pulling out the massive cannon. “Plus, I still have plenty of ice cream. Maybe now that your friend is here, you’ll be less of a Grumpy McCrazy Pants!”

Ancro lay on the ground, not even trying to move from the incoming presence. Not that he couldn’t, it just would’ve hurt a lot more. He heard the shrieking of the hinges as the door opened, and felt each hoof step as they entered his cell. He screamed as he felt their horn start to glow.



(Thanking my editor/artist Sara for correcting my god awful grammar, to contact for commissions email her at shaya.laperro@gmail.com. Also thanking my friends for letting me use them in this story. Feedback is always wanted and appreciated comments, messages, smoke signals work too. Sorry for taking a bit longer but the twelve and a half hour days at the factory are typically quite a dampener in the day, factor in the hour drive there and back and the time I have in which to write is quite minimal. Thanks for the patience and if you fav it like it!)	
	 
	
	



> Daddy's girl, Feeding, Plots
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Triumvirate 7


“You took a while in there, Stigs,” Scott said, polishing off his latest bowl of ice cream. “Everything come out okay?”
“Yeah, just had a discussion with somepony,” he answered with a victorious grin.
“Did Pinkie Pie pop up in the toilet?”
“Wha-No!” Stigandr chuckled, “Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Well, seems like the type of thing she would do,” Scott argued, causing Stigandr to pause in thought before silently agreeing that, yes, that is something she may do.
The unicorn quickly recomposed himself for the seriousness of the discussion to come. He gripped the griffon with his magic and pulled his ear close to his mouth, then he whispered, “Discord”
“And that is….?”
“Spirit of disharmony and chaos,” he answered, letting Scott go. “He said he already chatted with you while you were a statue.”
“…Okay, so that wasn’t me going insane from too many bloody ponies,” Scott said thoughtfully and passed the san check.
“What did you tell him?”
“Well…everything,” Scott said, rubbing the back of his head. “At least everything I knew.”
Stigandr breathed a sigh of relief. That wasn’t a lot of information. “Apparently, while Ancro went nuts in the library, it freed up a bit of his powers. Discord told me Ancro isn’t doing so great.”
“So what are we going to do about Discord?” Scott asked. “He doesn’t seem like the type you would want to be running around.”
“He’s off doing an errand for me,” Stigandr smiled.
“Umm…okay, but what do we do about Ancro?” Scott asked.
“I don’t know, but we need to think of something soon.”

A long, snake-like shadow slithered through the tall amber grass of an open plane. Far off in the distance, if you squinted, you could just barely see the faint speck that was the mountain that Canterlot rested on. The spirit of chaos whistled, the unicorn had been right. It was pretty far away. He was beginning to become more regretful about introducing himself to Stigandr. Now he was being used as a common errand boy. Although he did ask “politely”. Still, he held Discord’s freedom, however little it was, above his head. He had to admire that unicorn’s tact, though, threatening that he would tell Twilight Sparkle if he didn’t do what he was told. Not in so many words, though.
He arrived at the altar Stigandr spoke of and rubbed his chin in thought. It was old magic, older than the Princesses, which is why they had been so incapable of figuring it out. Oh, they had sent some ponies to try to discover where the unusual lightning had come from, but ultimately wrote it off as some playful pegasi. It wasn’t that the altar was old, no it was made a month ago. it’s just the magic was old, very old, the kind of magic that should’ve long been forgotten… old. As in, anypony that would’ve known about it should’ve long since passed. He tried to touch it, but then remembered he had no physical presence and face palmed. He knew that if he were to have any hope to ascertain what this was, he would have to have a more physical approach. The shadow snapped its fingers and slithered off, wondering why he hadn’t thought of it before.
“Oh, Screwball!” Discord called for his daughter in the direction of Manehatten, the last spot she had been.

“Shining Armor, if Celestia called me on such short notice, there has to be a reason why,” Cadence said to her husband as the train pulled in at the station. Typically, the captain of the royal guard would arrive by sky chariot, but he decided he would need time in order to collect himself on the way. Though loyal to the princess, he was uneasy about taking a vacation, and even more uneasy about the possibility of his wife having to interact with a changeling… Much less this one.
“If you’re sure you can handle it,” he said, giving her a concerned look. “Be careful, there’s something off about that one.”
“Shining, we defeated an entire army of changelings and saved Equestria. I can handle just one, especially with Fire Cracker and Hoplon escorting me,” Cadence replied, referring to her personal guards, the ones she had hoof picked after her husband insisted. “Now go, enjoy your time off, I’ll be along in a few days.”
“Okay, I’m trusting you.” He gave her a kiss as the conductor called ‘all aboard’.
“Have fun in Ponyville, Shining!” She called as he leaned out the window and waved at her.
“Be safe, Cadence.” 
“What’s the worst that could happen?” She called back to him as the train pulled out of the station.

“Report to the captain, we move in three days,” whispered the unicorn guard to the janitor as he swept by his post. “Shining Armor is going on vacation and Princess Cadence is coming in.”
The janitor’s eyes widened slightly, but not enough to reveal anything. Things couldn’t be turning out more perfectly… A new ally, and the opportunity for revenge to boot. This was going to be fun.
“Do we know what for?” The janitor whispered back.
“The changeling in custody is apparently starving.”
“I’ll inform him immediately,” the janitor replied before getting back to his sweeping. The changelings had infiltrated the crystal cavern prison some months prior, to see if any of theirs were being held here, and to if necessary be able to strike at Canterlot. The last thing they expected to happen was a rogue changeling to show up and thrash a bunch of guards. Some of the changelings were still hoping to see a rematch of just him and that pompous Shining Armor.

“You got the parasprites, sis?” Shift asked his sister as they got to work in the prison kitchen, overseeing the other ponies that weren’t in solitary confinement. The guards they were posing as were occasionally asked to help with the kitchen work, something they didn’t know when taking over as them.
“Not on me,” she replied, stunned her brother would even ask such a stupid question. What idiot would keep those on their person at work?
“I’m not stupid, I was just making sure.” He said, “heard the captain went on his vacation.”
“Yeah, so?”
“That makes breaking that shield a lot easier?”
“Obviously,” she smiled, “and also means the ponies don’t think he is a threat anymore.”
“But he still is, right?”
“Of course, it’s just a façade.” She sighed, “Hell, even you know not to burn yourself out like that.”
“Only did it once,” he said, chuckling to his sister.
“Yeah, I remember. Who do you think took care of you for that week?” She said, elbowing her brother in the ribs with a chuckle.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Cadence.” Celestia smiled down towards her niece from her throne. “I have a favor to ask of you. You do not have to do it if you don’t want to.”
“Does it involve the changeling?” Cadence asked hesitantly.
“Yes, it does.” Celestia sighed, “I want you to know I understand this isn’t something I wanted ask of you after what happened.”
“What do you need me to do?” Cadence had an idea of what it was, but was hoping she wasn’t going to ask.
“What I’m asking you to do… Is feed it,” Celestia said, hanging her head in the disbelief that she had gone so far as to ask her niece, who had already experienced so much due to them, to help one.
“I figured as much.”
“I know that this is a difficult thing for me to ask of you,” she said, “and I didn’t come to this decision lightly; however, the condition of the changeling is…dire. I cannot let it suffer like that.”
“Like what?”
“Follow me,” Celestia replied. “It’s far easier to show you than to explain.”

As they walked deeper into the Crystal Caverns, Cadence had to admire the work that went from turning it from old abandoned mine, to the prison it had become. Light emanating from the crystals that lined the walls and gave the caverns their name, pillars more for decoration than actual purpose, stood in the entry way. Above them, in the form of statue, a blind folded alicorn holding a scale and a sword stood above the entryway.  After going through several guard posts and checkpoints, they reached the maximum security section. Celestia continued her silence as they walked through the empty cells. They approached a door with six guards, two of each type standing at attention.
“What is that screaming?” Cadence asked as they reached the door to Ancro’s cell.
“That’s the changeling, Ancro,” Celestia said, taking a step back. The screams lessened slightly.
“Why is he screaming?” Cadence asked, sounding concerned. “Aunt Celestia, you wouldn’t possibly be tor-“
“No, I wouldn’t. Neither would Luna. We have no idea what’s wrong with him, he reacts negatively to magic, and the stronger it is…the more pain it causes him,” Celestia stated, she never thought she could possibly feel such concern over a changeling. The glowing white alicorn took a step back and the screams lessened. She shook her head and sighed. “Sadly, this is beyond my mag-“
“I-I’ll do it,” she said, taking a hesitant step towards the cell. She winced as he started to scream again.
“Thank you Cadence, I know this is a very hard decision for you.” Celestia forced a smile. “I must warn you though, if you feed him, he can be a little unusual.”
She walked into the cell that held Ancro and the intensity of his screams increased. Cadence stopped. She recognized this cell, if only for the many weeks she spent locked here. The changeling’s screams were near deafening, and somehow got worse as she approached.
The guard at the end of the cell standing next to princess Celestia couldn’t help but sympathize with his changeling brother’s cries of hunger. However, he was incapable of action. He knew that his mission was more important. No matter how badly he wanted to help him, he knew his mission came first, even if the changeling was a part of his mission.

Stigandr was walking through ponyville taking in the sights and sounds of the small hamlet he knew so well. Yet, actually being here beat the show by a long shot. The pure bliss and happiness that radiated off these carefree ponies trotting around without a care in the world… And he was amongst them. He was loving it, and it was all he could do not to pull a Pinkie Pie. Couldn’t help the smile, though.
“Extra, Extra, photos of captured Changeling held in Crystal Caverns Prison!” Cried Sweetie Belle as she waved the papers around, trying to get ponies to buy them. That got Stigandr’s attention.
“How much for one?” he asked, masking his desperation and excitement.
“One bit,” She said, her voice cracking adorably. He could hardly resist picking her up.
Stigandr gave her the coin and took the paper. Then he bolted off to the library, a plan starting to form in his head. First, though, he needed to see a unicorn about teleportation spells.

Discord sat there and waited for his daughter to come answer his call. He knew she would with all haste; she would stop whatever it was she was doing and come to him, it was only a matter of time. Then he saw the purple and white billowing mane, the pink coat, and heard the familiar chugga-chugga noise that accompanied her. He smiled warmly and waved to his daughter.
“Daddy!” Screwball flew forward  hugged the shadow of her father, an impossible feat, yet she somehow pulled it off. “You’re not stone!”
“Well, yes I still am, my little abomination,” Discord sighed, hugging his daughter back the best he could. “This is all that’s free.” Discord saw the depression creep into Screwball’s eyes as she struggled to hold back tears. “Hey there, no need for tears, I have a feeling it won’t be too long until I’m entirely free. Then we can make chaos all we want!”
“Okay daddy,” she said, perking up a bit. “What are we doing out here?”
“A favor,” the shadow groaned as he walked over towards the altar. “I need a helping hoof.”
“Whatever you need, I’ll do it daddy,” she said, corkscrewing around the altar, striking a serious tone, and looking extremely silly while doing so.
“Thank you Screwball,” Discord said grinning warmly. “I’m sorry to cut our reunion short, but I have to go. I’ll be back in a few minutes, can I trust you to try to trace the magic?”
His daughter stopped where she was, and saluted her dad while still pinwheeling in the air.
“Atta girl!” Discord said excitedly, “Daddy will be right back.”

“Princess Mi Amore’ Cadenza,” Ancro said with a bow, feeling far better now that she had fed him. The first he had done was to block out all the background magic and emotions, which reduced his headache to practically nothing. “You are one of the last ponies I expected to visit me, is Blueblood behind you?”
“Please, call me Cadence,” she said flatly, having heard her husband’s stories of him already.
“I’d rather not,” Ancro responded, “haven’t earned the right.”
“Yet you call my husband ‘Shiny’,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, I count him as a friend,” Ancro stated, “not a great a friend, but still a friend.”
“…What?” Cadence asked. Ancro realized an explanation was necessary.
“Well, when we fought in the library,” Ancro said, stretching and walking towards the pink bubble, “he was the only one I actually felt a connection with in that fight. It was fun, I got to cut loose a bit more, almost felt like I’d have to get serious.”
Cadence’s jaw dropped and her eyes widened as her brain tried to comprehend what this crazy changeling was talking about. He considered her husband his friend because he felt a connection while they were fighting. No matter how many times she turned it over in her head, it didn’t make sense. It made even less sense coming from a changeling that were a race of deceivers and not fighters. They’d run before fighting, unless they had an overwhelming advantage like in the attack. 
“Okay…Well it has been interesting speaking with you.” 
“Thank you, I try to entertain.”
“I’ll be back in a few days to…feed you again.”
Ancro nodded as she left. He waved one holed hoof in the air in the good-bye type motion.

“You weren’t lying when you said he was unusual” Cadence said as they made their way out of the prison.
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know, threats, insults, reminders of how that was my cell,” she answered with a nervous chuckle, “but not that.”

The changeling disguised as a guard couldn’t believe it. She was there, RIGHT THERE. Within reach, princess Cadence was directly beside him, walking out of the cell after having fed the changeling. She was in striking distance, literally inches from him. The black unicorn could practically taste her! Actually, he could taste the residue of the love spell rolling off her. He thought, one strike; one strike was all it would take to kill her. The thoughts of being a triumphant hero upon returning home, then the realization that he wouldn’t be returning home if he attacked, hit. With all his might, he stood perfectly still, not even blinking. The mission came first…then came revenge. Sweet… savory… revenge. In three days they were going to rush in, break the shield and teleport him out, which was the goal of the Arcani, revenge was for another time.
“I’ll need to come back in three days to feed him again, or else the symptoms might take hold again,” Cadence said to Celestia, snapping the changeling back to reality. His heart skipped a beat; revenge would be theirs after all.

(Again a huge thank you to my editor/artist sara for making this readable for commissions contact her at www.shaya.laperro@gmail.com. Thank my friends who inspired the characters of the triumvirate and don’t have a problem letting me portray them in such a way. Comments and criticism always accepted, let me know how I can do better and make a better story. Thank you for reading )

> Two days before the riot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Triumvirate Chapter 8


Two days before the riot.

To anypony walking by the library, they would assume nothing different was going on. They’d be a little confused at the sight of the bubble surrounding the library. Then, every window in the library would blow outward in a plume of brown magic.
“Stigandr, are you alright?” Twilight asked, as the unicorn picked himself up from a fairly explosive teleportation.
“Yeah, except I think my spleen and my heart switched places,” Stigandr chuckled before coughing up a cloud of smoke.
“Well actually that’s highly unlikely, nearly impossible. Short distance teleportation spells don’t disassemble you as much as just pop you there by tearing a hole and opening a new one,” Twilight stated, searching her spell book for an easier teleportation spell. “Why do you have to learn this spell now, and why long distance?”
“I need to get to Canterlot,” Stigandr stated, powering up his horn again.
“Well, you said that, but why don’t you two just take the train?” Twilight asked.
“Don’t have the money for the tickets.” His horn powered up further as Stigandr visualized the other side of the library, and let the magic loose. He opened his eyes and was on the other side of the library.
“Maybe I should see about getting you some tickets,” Twiliight said.
“What are you talking about, it worked that time.” He stood up excitedly, then wondered why his back hurt so much.
“Not really.” She pointed out the path of destruction from where he started to where he ended.
“I’ll clean that up.”

“Ow!” Scott shouted, taking another swing at Rainbow Dash, who easily side stepped and bucked him in the arm. “Ow!”
“Wow, Stigandr was right,” Rainbow Dash said, half mockingly, half making conversation. “This is therapeutic.”
Scott was going to kill Stigandr. He knew he wasn’t in shape, and he knew he couldn’t fight worth a damn, but he didn’t believe getting the crap beat out of him by a lesbian pony (San check passed) was going to help. Yes, it was practice, but it was painful practice.
“Glad…you are…enjoying…it,” he gasped, already out of breath.
“Do you need a drink or something?”
“Yes.”
Scott landed next to Applejack and thought, 'great, I’m already learning their bloody names'. He went for a swig of apple cider, but had his mug taken away.
“Yer friend said to make yaw work fer it,” she said, pointing at some apple trees with her hoof. “You need to apple buck those trees.”
“What?”
“Applebuck,” she repeated, and walked over to the tree and bucked it with no apparent effort. There was a slight rumble as the motion traveled up the tree, and all the apples fell into the preplaced barrels. “Jus’ like that.”
Scott looked skeptical as he approached the tree. He turned around and kicked that sucker as hard as he could. They heard his yell all the way into Ponyville. 

Ancro’s eyes opened as he felt the presence disturb his slumber. He immediately recognized it as Celestia, not Shiny, coming to recharge his shield. The door opened, and in walked the regal alicorn. He reflexively squinted, but then found his eyes no longer burnt when looking at her. He rolled his eyes as he realized he was fed yesterday, and thus could block out the pain.
“You seem to be feeling better, Ancro,” she said 
“I’m feeling much better,” Ancro said cordially, bowing. “However may I be of assistance to you your highness?”
“I just want to ask some questions,” she said, just as cordially.
“About what?”
“Well, there’s a lot we do not know about changelings,” Celestia stated, kneeling down in front of the shield. “I was hoping you could enlighten me?”
Ancro fought to resist the urge to tell her ‘join the club’, but he decided that since she most likely had something to do with Cadence’s decision to feed him, he decided to keep up being polite. “If I can answer it I will, but I have to warn you there’s a lot I don’t know.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s complicated,” he said with a shrug, not wanting to be silenced by the simple fact that he wasn’t able to talk about it for inter-dimensional reasons beyond his understanding.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could’ve sworn he saw Discord looking on in amusement.
“Is there any way you can simplify it?”
“To put it bluntly your Majesty, I don’t even understand it,” Ancro said, trying to keep tiptoeing, “All I can tell you is that I only know slightly more than you.”
“Why would that be?”
“I can’t say,” he said, being quite literal for once. “Trust me.”
“Very well then,” she sighed, seeing fit to leave the subject for now. “What were you looking for in the library?”
“A book,” Ancro replied smart-assedly, then noticed the glint of anger in her eyes and quickly revised his statement. “A book about inter-dimensional transportation, or inter-plane travel.”
“Excuse me?”
“A book about traveling to another plane of existence,” Ancro said, feeling relieved that he had been able to get that out without being silenced.
“Why would you be looking for that in the royal Library?”
“Well, we figured that if a book of spells like that would be anywhere, it would be there.” Ancro shrugged, then noticed Celestia’s expression. “It wasn’t there, was it?”
“Ancro, magics such as the ones you speak of have been lost to us since the days of Discord,” she explained, still maintaining the dumbfounded expression on her face.
“Well, drat,” Ancro said, slightly disheartened by the discovery of this information. “Does that mean I can go?”
“No,” She replied. “Why would your queen be after such a book?”
“I didn’t know she was after such a book, considering I was the one after it,” Ancro replied. He should’ve known that she didn’t fully believe him, or trust him.
“Why were you after it, then?”
“I can’t say.” He glanced, and saw Discord rolling on the ground in laughter. He didn’t let it bother him, Ancro was too busy hoping Celestia would connect the dots. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but no sound came out.
She apparently didn’t, and Ancro was forced to accept that such a concept as interplanetary visitors was alien to the ponies, an irony he had to laugh at.
“What’s so funny?” Celestia asked, slightly agitated.
“Nothing…Do you know how to play chess?” Ancro asked through his laughter.

Ancro levitated the pawn of his chess board to take Celestia’s rook, a move which amused her. Ancro still wasn’t in any condition to fight. He could just barely levitate the chess pieces and maintain his blocks. Somepony said something about a breakout while he was incapacitated. At least he thought so, he wasn’t entirely sure. The princess moved her queen up, putting him into check. The changeling recognized the look in her eyes and the layout of the board. Etiquette said he should topple his king at this point. Ancro wasn’t one for giving up, though. Even while she was interrogating him, he still fought for every inch.
“I’m curious your highness,” Ancro said moving his pawn up to stall for time, “why the Crystal Caverns as your prison? Seems slightly…ironic?” Ancro struggled coming up with a better word to fit the description.
“It makes perfect sense when you know the workings of it,” She said moving her next piece, “The crystals prevent teleportation and its secluded enough that escape is very difficult to impossible, giving us a better place to rehabilitate those sentenced here.”
“Others are down here?” Ancro asked somewhat surprised.
“Yes, you don’t think we would have one prison dedicated solely to you do we?” She asked, “There are also other ponies down here, disturbed ponies, which are being helped and rehabilitated.”
“Now I feel less important,” Ancro said trying to add humor to a suddenly darker situation. It appeared to work. Now he was vulnerable though, and it was her turn to ask a question, she had started off generalizing them then steadily shrunk down to more personal levels, questions he was willing to answer for the most part because of the low risk involved with their answers even when combined would give the princess next to nothing.
“So tell me about your friends,” Celestia asked. He couldn’t help but smile at her clever ploy of baiting him with idle conversation.
“What do you want to know about them?” He replied evenly, hiding his delight. This was more his chess anyway. Not that he didn’t like the game, he loved it, even if he lost most of the time. He liked the thrill of the fight, winning and losing didn’t matter.
“I’m just curious, you seem to miss them.”
“I do, but I’m sure they are perfectly alright without me.” He smiled, “At the moment.”
“Do they not get along?” She asked in concern, levitating the next chess piece.
“No, they get along great; it’s just without me they can lack a bit of a push and cohesion.” Ancro chuckled, countering the princess’s move the best he could. “One can be overly cautious, the other can be frightened into inaction.”
“They sound like an interesting group.” She put Ancro in check again.
“We are,” Ancro corrected, moving to counter. Five moves until checkmate. 
“Even though you are no longer among them?”  Celestia asked, trying to probe deeper, moving her bishop to trap one of Ancro’s pieces. He knew damn well what she was doing, eventually she’d trap him to where he had to tell the truth casually.
“Stayed best friends with one of them, even though he was gone for well over a year,” Ancro stated. He gave her some useless information, other than gender. He moved his rook into position against the bishop.
“Wow, that is a strong friendship.” She moved her queen to cover the bishop, while it also blocked off his king’s escape.
“Yeah, didn’t think it would last for a bit there,” Ancro stated, moving a pawn to cover his rook to threaten the queen.
“Really, why is that?” She moved her queen to avoid losing it, but lost the angle on his king.
“That’s irrelevant and personal,” Ancro stated lazily. Then standing up and walking around to the side of the board he asked, “I’ve talked about myself enough, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself, there’s a lot I don’t know about your history and I would find it very enjoyable to learn something.”
“Why do you want to learn about me, Ancro?” She chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, it’s always been a personal thing of mine to talk to a creature that has lived such an exceptionally long time,” he said, moving his knight to take a pawn. “History has always been one of my favorite subjects.”
“Really, and how do I know you won’t use this against me in some way?” She asked casually, moving her rook to prevent the move Ancro had intended three moves later.
“If it’s just general history, there’s nothing I know that can be used against you.” He moved his king back one space. “Besides, if you tell me what I want to know, I’ll have fewer problems telling you what you want to know.”
“Very well, what do you want to know?” She asked, moving her knight forward and saying the phrase he heard out of every game with his dad and Stigs. “Checkmate.”
“Let’s start with Star Swirl the Bearded.”
Celestia smiled, “Now, that’s going way back. When I first met him, it was…”

“How’d it go, Scott?” Stigandr asked the weary looking griffin. He had been reading up on some beginner spell casting. Also, next to him lay an assortment of other beginner books. He had a lot to catch up on.
“I want to die,” he groaned, flopping limply onto the ground face first.
“Scott, you know that the floor is wood, right?”
“I know…now,” he said as Rainbow Dash and Applejack stepped over him.
“How’d he do?” Stigandr asked, looking up from his book.
“He uhm... well, he…”
“Was awful, he has no stamina, no speed, and well... No real strength,” Rainbow Dash said plainly, rolling her eyes as Scott told her to shut up.
Stigandr chuckled, somewhat amused.
“That was true; he couldn’t hardly buck any apples out of the trees,” Applejack stated. “Out of curiosity here, ya’ll don’t have tah answer if ya’ll don’t wanna, but why are you trying to get him into shape?”
“Because he needs to be in better shape.” 
“No I don’t, I’m in perfect shape as I am.”
“Scott, you could barely buck any apples from the tree,” Stigandr said in mock disappointment. In reality, he knew Scott was in no physical shape for the kind of stuff they had him doing. To him, it was mixture of amusement, and a reminder that he needed to get into shape.
“Shut uuuup,” he whined. “How’d your teleporting go, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Explosively bad,” he responded, still feeling sore from when he was sent flying across the room. “We’re taking the train.”
“Why don’t you guys just fly to Canterlot?”
“Because, sugar cube, in case you fergot, the pegasi have a massive storm planned for the next two days,” Applejack said, looking towards Rainbow Dash with some level of confusion. “You were telling me about it last week.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right.” Rainbow Dash said rubbing the back of her head with her hoof, the anatomical impossibility forcing a minor san check on Scott.
“Besides, coming from Canterlot is a downhill flight,” Scott added. “Going to is uphill, and to be honest, tough enough. Not to mention hauling him.”
A whistle blew, signaling the arrival of their train. Twilight had gone ahead to the train station to await her brother’s arrival. Stigandr closed the book and levitated it into his saddlebags. He asked before hoof if he could borrow them on the way to Canterlot, and Twilight said it was alright, she didn’t need them anyway. Stigandr looked down at his ticket and realized he still had a bit of time until the train left for Canterlot. He smiled at Scott, then Applejack.
“Why don’t we go to Sweet Apple Acres?” Stigandr said smiling. Scott groaned because he knew what was coming, Stigandr was going to one up him, horribly.

Shift walked down the hallway as a patrolling guard, getting the entire pattern of all the other guards down. He was being as thorough as possible, because he and his sister may only get one shot at grabbing the changeling. He rounded the corner and bumped into another guard. He nearly fell over.
“Sorry about that.” Shift said in the deep voice that accompanied his façade.
“It’s quite alright,” the guard answered in an equally deep voice, and dusted himself off. Then Shift noticed something that nearly made him shed his skin. The eyes glowed green. If only for an instant, they gave off a green glow. He was about to ask what he assumed was his sister, when he lowered his blocks and realized he had never felt that presence before. Things just got a lot more complicated and dangerous, he thought, very much more dangerous. He calmly dusted himself off and saluted the other ‘guard’, then continued his patrol. He had to keep up the act so the other guard didn’t notice him. That was the most important part.

(Going to thank my editor/artist, Sara (shaya.laperro@gmail.com) for doing her wonderful language magic to make this story readable and my friends, also going to thank my friends for letting them portray them in such a manor. Also updates on my awesome factory job…I don’t have it anymore they fired me saying I had poor work ethic and they’re the ones killing ponies to make rainbows so what does that say about me. Anyways guess this means I get more time to type my stories…unless I’m doing the mountains of yard work that has to get done as a result of me not having a job. Anyways enough about my life thanks for reading if you fav it like it, comments and feedback is always accepted in hopes that I can make this a better story for your enjoyment.)

> One day before the riot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Triumvirate 9

One Day before the riot.

The train arrived later than expected. It was night, and Luna’s moon hung in the sky overhead. The griffon and the unicorn rode in silence. Partly out of worry, and partly because they were crammed into coach, and talking about their plans to rescue their changeling friend from a maximum security prison cell underneath Canterlot would’ve made them look very suspicious. So, they found ways to pass the time. They  played poker, a game more to Scott’s liking, since there was more chance and less thought of how many moves ahead you had to be. They also occasionally glanced through the pictures they had gotten from Featherweight, who had been very thorough with his infiltration of the prison and very willing to give them the pictures before they left. Probably had something to do with the griffin mumbling angry half-threats towards his general direction. Most of the ponies had taken the night train by choice. The choice was that they just wanted to get home. 
As the train came to its stop at the Equestrian capital, Stigandr and Scott filed out of the train with the rest of the multi-colored, tired looking ponies.
“Do you think we can pull it off?” Scott whispered loudly, when he was sure not even his voice could be heard.
“I don’t know, but we don’t have any other options.” Stigandr replied as they walked into the relative darkness that was the sleeping Canterlot. Scott and Stigandr were still fascinated as to the just how bright the nights could be in Equestria. The streets seemed to shine in the moonlight, and for the most part the night was clear, except for the storm clouds that were rolling in from Ponyville. They were for about half-way over the Everfree.
“Glad I’m not trying to fly through that,” Scott said, trying to make idle conversation.
“I’m glad you’re not carrying me through that,” Stigandr chuckled as they made their way to the cheap hotel they stayed at last time they were there. “Well, there are plenty of pegasi pushing the storm to catch us if we get hit.”
“Shut up,” Scott said, trying to pass the san check and opening the door.

“Well Scott, they’re definitely going to remember you this time,” Stigandr said, magicking the door open.
“It was an accident,” he groaned, pulling bits of dirt and flowers off his head and out of his feathers. “I didn’t know the snake was behind me.”
“Scott, everypony knew that. In fact, we told you that several times,” Stigandr said with a light chuckle. He was used to Scott’s complete lack of self-awareness. “I’m just surprised you didn’t break the chandelier.”
“Yeah, we don’t have the bits to replace that.” He said, “Cleaned me out for the vase and the mirror.”
He heard the chime of Stigandr’s horn, and turned and saw him laying the pictures on the bed. One fell off, and he picked it up. He had to laugh at the sight of Ancro striking the Captain Ginyu pose. Then the next picture was of him vomiting. Feeling his own stomach churn, he put the picture down and asked, “what we got so far?”
“Entrance, several hallways, ventilation shafts that he used to sneak around in.” Stigandr felt a little frustrated sorting through the pictures. He took pictures of everything, and he thought he was OC. “Guard break room, several guard stations, checkpoints, armory.”
“Armory?” Scott said, snatching the picture excitedly and then became depressed when he saw what he meant by armory. “Of course there are trains, airships, and magic, but when it comes to weapons we are stuck in the damn dark ages.”
“It’s for the best actually.” Stigandr said, “would you like to be shot at by a magically assisted gun?”
“True,” he replied, seeing the point. “So, how we getting in?”
Stigandr levitated a picture of a laundry cart entering and leaving. It was clear that these pictures were taken several days in advance, and he came and went daily.
“No, no, no, no, no, that won’t work,” Scott said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Scott, it’s an underground prison with only one exit. Unless you have another way in, we’re kinda stuck with it.”
“Well…damn, let’s hope that ponies don’t have that old cliché.” The griffin groaned.

A guard was hard at work on patrol around the prison. Not that it was actually hard work, it was more or less just mentally tiring remaining that vigilant for hours on end. She had discovered on her first day that the difference between actual vigilance and fake vigilance was recognizable by the warden. When they called her out, she nearly changed on the spot, thinking they had discovered her. The work was just making sure the more dangerous ponies were kept under lock and key. They called them anti-social, but sexual sadist was a sexual sadist, they were dangerous. 
‘Pssst.’ A noise snapped her out of her daze, and at first she thought somepony noticed. She lowered her blocks and looked over, feeling her brother’s presence.
“What is it, Shift?” She hissed towards a shadow.
“We have a slight problem.”
“What is it?” She groaned, eager to get on with her day. “Did you get some mare pregnant?”
“No,” he objected, both offended and revolted, “but there are other changelings here.”
“…What?” Her tone went from annoyance and agitated, to fear in a split second. She let it control her for a second, then snapped back into control. “Are they rogues or loyalist, how many are there, what’s their ranks, do they know abo-“ She cut herself off as her brother shook his head from the shadows.
“I don’t know, I just bumped into one of them and saw his eyes flicker,” he stated, keeping his voice in some semblance of control, but clearly sweating. “Specs, what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” she said, trying to cope with the pressure that had suddenly come to her plan. “Calm down and let me think.”
“Are we going to fight them?” Shift asked hesitantly.
“I don’t know, maybe. Give me some time to think.” She sighed. Keeping herself together was tough enough, she didn’t need her brother to make things worse. “Just stay calm and stick with the plan.”
There was a rustle and a small green flash, as Shift changed back to the guard he had stolen and calmly went back to his patrol as if nothing had happened. Even if you were watching them, you wouldn’t believe anything was going on.

“Everything in place?” The commander who had taken the appearance of the laundry ponies asked the guard, who nodded slightly. “Any news on when Cadence will be arriving? I’d hate for her to miss the party.”
“One of our agents has read her schedule. She’ll be here at noon, and we can hold her up at the checkpoint if necessary,” he replied, with a volume that would’ve put Fluttershy to shame.
He didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly and carried on with his work like it was his life’s calling. Granted, it was the pony's whom he had killed life’s calling, but still he had picked it up fairly well. What a calling, he thought to himself. Doing laundry for the rest of your life, how dull. He found himself wondering if the old pony ever had dreams in life other than this, then he realized it didn’t matter, seeing as how the elderly stallion was dead and therefore not worth mentioning. He did notice one thing, for his age the stallion had put up an amazing fight. Not squishy, as old things typically are.
“Good, that’s well within our window,” he mumbled to the guard as he finished loading up the wagon. “Be ready, because we move at one.” He noticed the look on the other changeling’s face was one of confusion, although a pony couldn’t identify it. “We wouldn’t want our charge going hungry would we? Besides, I have a feeling that he will be in quite the mood to repay Cadence for her kindness.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, snapping back to attention, memorizing the details of the plan. Although all he had to remember was they let out the more…violent ponies... at one o' clock to run amok, there wasn’t that much else to do. Other than inform the ten other changelings who were impersonating guards.

“You'd think they’d at least have the decency to leave me a book,” Ancro said, his back against the wall.
“Except you can’t read,” Discord reminded him.
“I’m well aware of that,” he replied. “Still, it’s the thought that counts.”
“Well, you won’t have to put up with this too much longer,” Discord said lazily.
“Why, what do you mean?” Ancro raised an eyebrow, and Discord developed a look of genuine shock. “What?”
“You mean to tell me, you don’t remember what happens tomorrow?” The serpent-like chimera withheld a chuckled.
“No, I’ve been a bit incapacitated the past few days,” Ancro reminded him. “So, did Stigs come by and tell me some elaborately simple plan for breaking me out of here while I had my migraine?”
“Not exactly,” Discord replied, rubbing his chin in thought. “I think I’ll just leave it a surprise.”
Ancro grinned and looked at the twirling god. He couldn’t help but laugh at the predicament he was in, and the amazingly good trollage Discord was pulling off. He had to applaud him. 

“So you hate those Roman guys, huh?” Discord said after a while of silence.
“Yes…why?” Ancro asked warily.
“Oh, nothing. I just heard from a reliable source that you hate them,” he said. Ancro new far too well than to trust Discord, especially when it was 'oh nothing', he never trusted anyone’s 'oh nothing' statements. He just knew not to waste time pushing an issue that didn’t matter.

“Alright, Scott. Again,” Stigandr said as Scott tried to hit him with several more lunged slashes. They were steadily improving, and he had gotten better about keeping his guard up around his face. Stigandr made note of this as he jabbed him squarely in the beak, momentarily stunning Scott at a crucial moment in his attack. This, of course, left him vulnerable to all manners of nasty attacks, most of which Stigandr exploited. Finally, Scott flinched and backed away, covering himself with his arms and screaming for time out. The ponies that had gathered were trying not to chuckle as the unicorn beat the griffin. It wasn’t a bad beating. Stigandr was going easy on him, just trying to improve him. Which Scott had, he was now throwing punches and going in for hits, and taking them far better. He still had a long way to go, though.
“C’mon Scott, I didn’t even charge those,” he said, throwing several jabs at the air to stay loose and work off some adrenaline.
“They still hurt,” he griped, rubbing his bruises and fixing his feathers. “How do you and Ancro do this to each other all day?”
“Well, we practiced a lot before we became, well…” he said, wishing the other ponies weren’t in the gym, because it was sometimes good to actually be able to talk about it. He knew it would be good to have Ancro back; he needed someone to spar with, because he was going crazy. He looked back at his flank that advertised his two crossed pugil sticks. They represented his desire to compete, not necessarily win, and something else he picked up on Parris Island, 'adapt and overcome'. Every time Ancro came up with a new trick, he’d find a way to counter it. Ancro figured out he can charge his hooves. He develops a force push thing for his. Ancro figures out those flaming energy bolts, Stigandr learns to deflect them. They had a nice rivalry going on; Ancro once compared it to Vegeta and Goku. That made Scott, Krillin. “C’mon Scott, a little more practice before tomorrow morning won’t hurt.”
“Fine,” he groaned, getting up. “But how are we going to sneak into the laundry?” He lowered his voice to a near whisper.
“Leave it to me,” Stigandr replied, “now don’t hold back.”

A guard walked through the halls of the prison doing one last check to be sure everything was in place for tomorrow. The ten other changelings that had infiltrated were in places to which they could release the more aggressive inmates. The guards at the innermost checkpoint were informed to delay Cadence’s exit. The armory was locked down. Every eventuality was taken care of. They were going to unlock the cells, subdue the three guards that were guarding the changeling (the other three had already been replaced), break the shield and go out through the drainage system. The red stallion walked onwards finishing his patrol, and entered the locker room with the pony who had bumped into him yesterday.
“Sorry about yesterday, probably gave you a good knock on the head,” he said, remembering that to ponies, being cordial was important. They were typically always looking for ways to make new friends.
“Not a problem,” Shift replied, smiling warmly back at him, “my sister always said I have a hard head.”
The other changeling noticed something... Not in his voice, but directly from him. It was a hint of fear, barely detectable. He wrote it off as nothing, the room had been quiet and he probably just startled him a little.

Discord leaned back and smiled, his shadow sitting upon the shadiness of the Equestrian throne as Celestia lowered the sun. All the things that could add up to make tomorrow enjoyable were adding up. He wondered how much power would be released from this little squabble. If how much was released from when the human fought the guards was to be any indication, then hopefully he’d have enough to peer through the folds of the universes and look back to their earth. It was beginning to sound fairly interesting.
He smiled darkly as Cadence’s ‘maid’ put the daily planner down leaving no trace it had been disturbed. As Stigandr went over the plan with Scott, the griffin could barely hold together how ridiculous it sounded, but bowed to the reality of the situation that they would be fighting other changelings. As the changelings, both those of Chrysalises’ elite guard and the disloyal peons made their final preparations. Ancro was sitting in the bubble thinking, trying desperately to remember what was going to happen tomorrow. Finally, Discord looked to Cadence, the object of the animosity and revenge of the Changelings, and how she was about to unexpectedly walk into a trap out of the kindness of her heart. He let out a chuckle. The scenario couldn’t be any more perfect if he had planned it himself.

(Going to thank my editor/artist Sara for making this readable and going to apologize because my run-ons were apparently awful this time around if you want to contact her for commissions email her at shaya.laperro@gmail.com. Also going to thank my friends for letting me right about them in such a way and thank Stigs for helping come up with how to do his special talent. Also thanking my friends who have agreed to let me write about them in such a way. If anybody has been wanting more back flashes don’t worry will be taken care of in the near future bear with me I have some level of a plan. Thanks for reading and if you fav it please like it. My prayers go out to the victims of 9/11 attack.)

> Best laid plans
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 10
Best Laid Plans

“Shining Armor?” Twilight yawned groggily walking down the stairs, “what are you doing up so early?”
“Sorry didn’t mean to wake you sis,” He replied as he closed the book, “was just looking at some of the reading material you left out.”
“What?” She walked over a perplexed look on her face, then got a good look at the book it was one of the beginning reader books Stigandr had left out. “Oh, that’s not mine, somepony left it out by mistake.”
“Really who? Some little filly trying to get a head start at school?”
“Nothing that normal,” She said smiling, “I’ll tell you over breakfast.”
“What we having?”
“Pancakes sound good?”
“Depends who’s going to make them, you or Spike?” Shining Armor teased.
“Very funny, I’ll have you know that since coming to ponyville my cooking skills have gotten far better.”
“Well Twiley, that’s the only way they could’ve gone.”
“Do you want breakfast or not?” She replied, a few moments of silence passed, “that’s what I thought, now get ready cause I’m fixing to blow your taste buds away.”


“There is no way this will work.” Scott whispered from the back of the cart full of clean linens as they neared the entrance to the caves. 
“Yeah it will,” Stigandr replied confidently, completely aware of the cliché insanity of his plan. “They’re probably thinking nopony would break into a prison.”
“So…do we have any idea where he may be?”
“Maximum security,” Stigandr replied in a more serious tone. “We’re going to try to sneak in as far as we can, maybe negotiate a bit, and then if that fails fight our way in, than out.”
“Stigandr thank you for reminding you of our elaborate attempt at suicide.” Scott said rolling his eyes. “Let’s just hope we don’t into the pony equivalent of Bundy or someone during the riot.”
“Could you be anymore pessimistic?” 
“Stigs, I’m an eagle lion high-breed, been teleported to the universe of a girls tv show where clouds are tangible, and I haven’t seen a pair of pants since I got here,” Scott said not hiding his stress, “I really miss pants.” 
“Look we’ll have somepony make you some pants when this is done but for now shhh.” Stigandr said urgently as the elderly earth pony came hitched himself up to the cart and with a grunt walked off.

The changeling commander hooked himself up to the cart and began walking on his usual route to the prison granted this would hopefully be the last time he would perform this task. It would be easier if the cart wasn’t so much heavier this time. The changeling wandered if his sudden weakness meant the wife was catching on; he’d have to come back for her, no loose ends after all.
Meanwhile at the prison the nine changelings were making final preparations almost gleefully, still keeping their facades up. In the kitchen pantry a large room designed to feed the entirety of the prison and its staff for extended periods of time. The brother and sister threw the jar of fifty parasprites that they had gotten from fillydelphia and quickly shut the door.
“You ready?” Specs said unable to contain the unease in her voice.
“As ever, so we still move at 12:30 right?” Shift asked anxiously
“Yeah, should’ve given those little fuzz balls all the time they need to spread throughout the ventilation systems.”
“You put the food in the vents right?” 
“Yes, everything is taken care of.” She said putting a hoof on her brother’s shoulder and soaking up some of his anxiety.
“Thanks, I needed that,” Shift said relaxing slightly.
“That’s what I’m here for, if what else than to take care of you?” She chuckled.

Ancro paced inside his bubble if he had things to pack he would’ve already packed in a haphazardly suit case with a sock hanging out.
“Know any good riddles?” Ancro asked wishing for a clock or for Discord to at least give him some kind of countdown.
“What’s going to happen in a few hours?” Discord said ominously.
“What?”
“Now if I answer it what’s the point in it being a riddle?”
Ancro took several moments to think it over and it did seem logical, what would be the point of the riddle if he didn’t figure it out. “Okay, point.” He replied sitting down and thinking hard about the riddle, not that he particularly cared, it was just a way to pass the dreadfully slow amount of time, he was not the type to do nothing unless that nothing was with his friends.

Princess Celestia sat in her study during the break while her carriage was being prepared. She had elected to read several of the history books some of the changeling’s questions had gone into areas that she hadn’t thought about in several hundred years. She hadn’t forgotten she just wanted to remind herself. 
The princess of the sun put up one of the older history texts that she had helped author when as she pushed it back into its spot on the shelf a dusty old tome fell out. She picked it up slowly and somberly, having completely forgotten about the books existence. She placed it on the table and smiled as she flipped it open on the first page, a portrait of her, Luna, and a bearded unicorn wearing an unusual assortment of robes decorated with bells. She thought back to when it was painted the summer day was hot, painfully so they were sweating and tired, the picture showed the sun setting in the west over the mountain that would one day hold the capital. A small laugh left her throat and a tear rolled down her cheek as she looked at the portrait of her old mentor and first friend. He kept complaining that the artist didn’t get the number of bells on his robe right, Starswirl made them stand regally all day.
“Where did you disappear to old friend?” She asked the picture.
“Your highness.” One of the palace guards said knocking on the door.
“Yes?” She replied not showing a hint of the sadness she had portrayed moments ago.
“Your carriage is ready to take you to Fillydelphia.” The guard groaned the last part of the statement.
“Thank you,” she sighed leaving the book open on the desk.

Princess Cadence and her two guards approached the cell that contained Ancro. The six guards at the doorway stood rigidly at attention as the alicorn and her two guards walked through unopposed. Half of them exchanged a glance and looked towards the clock at the on the wall, she was early. Their plan would still work regardless.

“Hello Princess Mi Amore Cadenza I thought I felt your presence, how are you feeling today?” Ancro asked pleased to see the pink princess. He also looked over at her guards both of them wearing a pink breastplate and helmets. He looked them both over and could’ve sworn that he recognized the orange pegasus from somewhere.
“Fine,” her reply was bland and vague. She charged her horn and a small heart floated out and through the bubble and into Ancro. 
“Sorry you couldn’t go see Twilight with Shiny.” Ancro apologized feeling that may be part of the problem. He was always fairly apologetic when someone was upset even if it wasn’t his fault, unlike this time where it was his fault entirely. “Who are your friends by the way?”
“They are my personal guards,” She replied not even acknowledging his apology. Ancro was okay with it though she had every right to be slightly agitated at him. 
“They look tough.” He said sizing them up then turned to the stallion. “How are you doing, my name’s Ancro, what’s your’s.”
The red earth pony with a round shield cutie mark stood there still as a statue.
“Hey don’t know if anypony told you but you’re allowed to talk in here, Shiny does it all the time.” Ancro said staring at him intently. The changeling apparently struck a nerve even though the earth pony wasn’t showing it. He didn’t have to he could taste it in the air. “Granted they are threats most of the time, but still its conversation.” Ancro said trying to lighten the mood with humor. He frowned when it only seemed to grow the earth pony’s agitation. He looked to the other one a pegasus he swore looked like Spitfire, he wasn’t sure however so he decided to ask.
“Are you related to Spitfire?” He pointed to her. She showed an immediate sign of agitation, her eyes narrowed and her face blushed a bit. “Well what is it yes or no?” He asked after politely waiting a second.
“Ancro, I would like to ask you about your friends.” Cadence said interrupting the stimulating conversation.
“What about them?”
“They are not changelings are they?” She replied.
“Whatever would make you think that?” He asked narrowing his eyes.
“Well nopony has turned up missing.” She said and watched as Ancro connected the dots. “How long have you hypnotized them?”
“Clever, but no, I have never hypnotized any pony. Just wouldn’t be me.” Ancro replied. “Have you gone to Celestia with this yet?”
“No, I plan to though,” She replied, “now that you’ve confirmed it.”
“Mi Amore, she’s over a thousand years old,” Ancro said, “you’re just telling her something she probably already has a theory or two about.”
Ancro sat intently and stared into the alicorn’s eyes awaiting her reply. Cadence silently turned around walked out her two guards followed suit as she walked out of the cell.

As they started to leave maximum security one of her guards spoke up. Firecracker an orange and red pegasus who bared a shocking resemblance to Spitfire and to point that she died her mane green once so ponies would stop trying to get her autograph. “Was he like that last time?”
“Yes he was,” Cadence replied, “Shining Armor said that he is always like that even when he was starving.”
“Not sure about you Crackers,” Hoplon spoke up from his typical silence in his gruff voice. “but I want to buck him.”
“So do I,” She replied glaring back at the cell door. “Like I don’t get enough of that Spitfire nonsense when I’m off duty.”
“Well you do look li-“ Hoplon was cut off by a glare from Spitfire. “I mean how dare he?”
“Nice save there Hoplon,” Cadence chuckled as they approached the security checkpoint that separated the maximum to regular high security. All things considered she thought that the ponies up ahead should be locked up under more security than Ancro. At least the same level of security.

“Halt, who goes there?” An earth pony stallion bellowed.
“Relax, Paldron it’s only me.”
“Lancer?” One of the guards said looking towards the approaching pegasus, “what are you doing here, your shift doesn’t begin for another half hour.”
“Yeah, I got here early figured I’d give you a break.”
“Thanks, but I don’t want either of us to get in trouble.” He chuckled towards his childhood friend. 
“That’s okay, hey how long have we known each other?” 
“Shoot that’s going way back, at least since before we got our cutie mar-.” The guards sentence was cut off as he felt a sharp pain in his chest, trembling he looked down and saw a black claw in the place of his friend’s hoof and watched in horror as he transformed into a changeling.
“No, we’ve only known each other for a few weeks,” He smiled as he twisted the claw around inside the shocked earth pony tasting the terror of the realization hitting him, “that’s right, Lancer has been dead for weeks, and you didn’t even notice.” The changeling’s smile was cold as the light fled the guard’s eyes. He tasted and drank every ounce of fear the pony let off, purposefully drawing out the suffering. Finally when he was full he withdrew his claw and turned back into a holed hoof. “It’s okay, your sister didn’t even notice either, and she was Lancer’s wife.”
Paldron’s teary eyes faded as he watched two more changelings descend from the ceiling and start unlocking cell doors. 

The thunder crashed outside as Twilight and her brother relaxed to sit down and eat while the library aired out. Twilight paid the waitress at the restaurant where they had stopped for brunch, it was too late for breakfast and Twilight had blown away everything but their taste buds.
“So,” Shining Armor said taking a bite out of his sandwich, “what’s up with the books?”
“Well, you’re not really going to believe this,” She said rolling her eyes, “but if you really want to know, we ran into a stallion at the hospital who needed some help.”
“What kind of help?”
“It’s a long story but the weird thing well, weird thing other than Pinkie Pie having a new Pinkie sense about them, it was that he couldn’t read.” Twilight said leaning over and taking a sip, “neither he or his friend, a griffin knew how to read.” 
“…what?” Shining Armor said stopping mid bite.
“Yeah, they said that they had to go to Canterlot,” Twilight responded not noticing her brother’s pupils start to shrink, “to meet up with a friend.”
“Did they say their friend’s name?” Shining Armor said hoping that it was still coincidence.
“Surprisingly it didn’t come up in conversation,” Twilight replied and Shining Armor let out a small sigh of relief. “but I think I overheard them talking it was something that started to an ‘A’, Amcor, Ancor.”
“Ancro,” Shining Armor said trembling.
“Yeah that may have been it” Twilight said absently than felt herself become weightless as her sandwich faded into the distance. The unicorn turned to her rapidly running brother who was magically carrying her, “Shining Armor put me down, what are you doing! I haven’t even paid!”
“Pay later we need to get a letter to princess Celestia, Canterlot is in danger!”
“What how?”
“Those two, the pony and the griffin, the illiterate ones you were telling me about.” Shining Armor said darting into the library, Twilight nodded as she almost hit her head on the door frame. “Neither could the changeling, he also said he expected his two friends to come for him.”
“Couldn’t it be a coincidence?”
“The changeling said none of them knew how to read.”
“Get me a quill and some paper.” Twilight said realizing the situation.

The two ‘guards’ left the cafeteria and started heading towards maximum security. They had spent many nights researching the route in their shared apartment. The plan was to wait until the parasprites had gotten everywhere then they were going to dig under the shield and sneak him out through the laundry chute. They tested the first part of the plan during the attack on Canterlot when they had been forward observers, and the second part when shift tripped and fell down the laundry chute and nopony had noticed, except an old stallion working in the laundry room but even then that was a good half hour later when they found him.
“Have you seen any of them?” Shift whispered towards his sister as they walked past another guard station.
“No, I haven’t.” She replied equally as quite. “But it’s okay, they don’t know we’re here, otherwise…”
“Otherwise we would’ve already been dead.” He finished. He glanced as an air vent and saw a pair of wings flap by and was instantly comforted. They were going to make it through this after all. Alarm bells started to go off and it startled Shift to the point of which he almost dropped his disguise and ran. He surprised himself with his own steadfastness.
“What’s going on?” Specs asked as they took off running towards maximum security.
“I have no idea.” Shift shrugged as an explosion echoed down the hall.
“The front gate’s caved in!” Somepony shouted.
“Prisoners are on the loose!” Yelled another.
“Get to the armory and man your posts, we need to get this situation under control,” The warden, a big burly griffin shouted, “You two halt.”
The two changelings in disguise froze and saluted a griffin. On the outside they had a calm exterior but inside they were terrified. They kept glancing down at his talons waiting for him to rip them apart.
“Princess Cadence was inside maximum security, go find her and let her know what’s happening.” The two saluted and darted off thankful they could catch such a break when the rest of the plan had taken a terrifying turn. 

“Stigs,” Scott rasped as he struggled to fit into the armor. They apparently had several griffin personnel on base or somepony just like to have griffin armor lying around. “Sitgs, help.”
Stigandr looked over at Scott who was trying to slide the armor on over his head instead of snapping it around his torso by undoing the latches along the side. The sandy brown unicorn used his magic to unlatch the armor and close it around 	Scott. “Thanks bro.”
“No problem.” He said levitating the helmet onto his head. “Let’s rock.”
They had managed to duck into the locker room without getting noticed when their exit was collapsed. The duo casually walked out of the locker room and into the mayhem that was rapidly descending over the prison.
“Why are there crystals everywhere?” Scott asked.
“We’re in the crystal caverns,” He replied, “It makes sense that there would be crystals.”
“Well, I know that, but why don’t they, y’know magic them away?” The griffin said as the unicorn started to pick up the pace as they made their way to maximum security.
“I don’t know,” He said sighing, “why don’t you ask them when we are done rescuing Ancro.”

Three of the guards on Ancro’s cell turned to each other and nodded upon hearing the signal, the plan was to collapse the statue which would trap everypony inside. Blocking the exit giving them plenty of time to work and make their way to the drainage. Suddenly and without warning the three changelings lunged at and quickly overpowered the other three pony guards. 	They transformed and without so much as a word darted into Ancro’s cell.
“Well it started sooner than I thought it would.” Discord said noticing the slight rumble. A true testament to the size of the statue. Ancro stood silently trying to go to sleep. The changeling didn’t know why he tried; he never slept well on a full stomach. He lazily glanced up a Discord who smiled knowingly down on him.
The door burst open with and green flame blasted into the room. When the smoke had cleared three changelings darted in and immediately started tackling the shield. ‘okay,’ Ancro thought, ‘definitely not what I was expecting.’
It wasn’t long before cracks started forming in the shield from the changelings’ efforts. 

“Got yer message Twahlight,” Applejack said running into the library soaking wet from the rain, “what’s the emergency?”
Applejack was the latest arrival, Fluttershy, Rarity, and all her friends had come because they all had some part in what had happened.
“Girls, you may want to sit down.” Twilight said taking a deep breath.
“Whatever is the matter dear?” Rarity said taking a seat on a cushion. She looked upstairs and saw that Shining Armor was putting on his royal armor.
“We may have helped the changeling that attacked the library.” Twilight said then noted the confused and shocked expressions on her friend’s faces. “Those two the griffin and the pony, they were likely his accomplices.”
“What?!” They cried out in unison. Except Fluttershy who said ‘oh my’. Twilight explained the evidence to them and how they were likely under his spell.
“So it’s not their fault they probably have no idea what they’re doing right now.”
“Have you tried contacting the princess?” Rarity toned in trying to calm the situation down.
“Yeah, Twi, send a letter to Celestia so she can go down there stop him and show this changeling who’s boss.” Rainbow Dash announced.
“I’ve tried but so far haven’t gotten an answer from her.” She replied hanging her head. 
“Is there anything we can do to help sugar cube?” Applejack said resting a hoof on her friends shoulder. Shining Armor came downstairs in his full military armor.
“Twilight, I’m ready, do you have the teleport spell prepared.” He said in a soothing voice.
“Yeah. It’s ready.” Twilight paused and took a deep breath. “I’m going with you.”
“No, we talked about this; you are going to just send me there.”
“You don’t know what’s going to be waiting for you when you get there, it could be a massive attack!” 
“All the more reason for you not to go.” Shining Armor replied.
“I’ll just send you there and teleport after you.” Twilight answered. Shining Armor opened his mouth as if to say something but then hung his head realizing the futility.
“Just promise me you’ll stay safe.” He said.
“Of course bbbff.” She turned to her friends. She stopped to charge her horn but was startled when she heard somepony say ahem from behind her.
“My dear, you of course did plan to bring us along right?” Rarity said raising an eyebrow. She looked at the determination that was in her eyes. Behind her Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and even Fluttershy stood with a determined look in their eyes.
“Thanks girls.” Twilight said as she charged her horn and the soft lavender glow of her magic enveloped the group.

(Thanks goes out to my editor/artist Sara for putting up with my awful grammar and run-on sentences. I’d like to thank my friends who inspired the characters of the triumvirate and for being such great friends. Feedback, comments, and suggestions are excepted, anything that can make this a better story. This concludes the buildup chapters next is the crescendo. Thanks for reading if you fav it like it.)

> Riot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 11
Riot

In a flash of purple light, seven ponies appeared outside the entrance to the Crystal Caverns. The statue of the Alicorn of Justice lay in a  pile of rubble while several guards tried to dig their way through. They were having difficulty as is, and the driving rain wasn’t helping. Twilight stumbled briefly, feeling completely drained from the massive teleport.
“Captain!” A guard saluted Shining Armor. “Thank Celestia you are here, there was a cave-in. We have no idea how it happened.”
“I have an idea,” Shining Armor grumbled. “Is Cadence trapped down there?”
“Yes sir, but we have no way of knowing if she is alright, or what else is going on inside.”
“Psst!  Twilight, can’t you just teleport in?” Rainbow Dash whispered.
“No, the Crystal Caves interrupt teleportation magic. Even if the trip from Ponyville hadn’t exhausted me…” She didn’t finish the sentence. She just let it drop. “I was hoping they hadn’t had time to prepare anything this elaborate.”
“So, we’re stuck outside?” Rarity asked, then gave her friend a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Twilight, I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”
Shining Armor’s horn flashed, and with awe-inspiring power, he erected a massive shield around the prison and the immediate area. The lavender mare took a deep breath. Without the rain distracting her, she could collect her thoughts a lot better. Even if her magic was weak for the moment, she could still use her brain. She smiled confidently and started giving her friends their instructions.
“Rainbow Dash, Rarity. You two get to the palace and alert the princesses to what’s happening.”
“On it!” The cyan pegasus jetted off skyward.
“Certainly.”
“Applejack, Pinkie Pie. See what you can do about helping them move the rocks.”
“Gotcha.”
“Okie DokeyLokey!”
“Fluttershy?” Twilight said turning to her timid friend.
“Umm…yes, Twilight?” The yellow pegasus asked, trying to be brave in the face of more changelings. She was still flinching at the sound of thunder, though.
“I need you to see if you can get several of your animal friends to get us a look inside,” she smiled calmly.
“Oh, okay, I’ll see what I can do.”

The changelings had finally cracked the shield that surrounded Ancro. At first, he had a desire to help, but then realized he didn’t know their motives, and since coming to Equestria he had learned just how little he did know. Reading being the most recent that came to mind. They had stopped and lowered themselves into a position he had learned to take in order to get the most energy to flow to his horn. What happened next was something that hadn’t occurred to him.
Ancro had assumed he had seen all the attacks that changelings could perform in their brief appearance in the show. It had not occurred to them that he could transform to augment certain aspects. Like, for instance, get a second horn in order to throw more power into a spell.
The fireballs started to form in between their horns and shone like miniature green suns. He could feel the pressure building, and could taste the emotion they poured into the fireballs. Finally, when they reached the size of the changelings’ heads, they fired at the crack in the shield and shattering it in a violent explosion that rocked the cave. For a terrifying moment, Ancro believed the crystals would fall and impale him.
“Thank you for helping, I guess,” Ancro said, collecting himself. “I’d offer you a drink but unfortunately I don’t really have anything.”
“Una, second-in-command of the fourth decana of her majesty, Chrysalis’s praetorian guard,” she said, in such a painfully plain and bland tone that it nearly made Ancro wince.
“That’s nice,” he said, secretly hating all the latin in her speech. “How can I help you?”
“You are coming with us, her majesty queen Chrysalis has demanded you be brought to her.”
“What if I’m not in an oblig-“ There was a crackle in the air, and he could feel the magic in their horns charge up. He didn’t like the idea of surrender, not at all. In fact, it made his stomach flip as an inner image of himself screamed ‘no’ in his ear. Survival was something he was fond of, and patience was another thing. He’d wait for his chance to escape. “Which way are we heading?”
“This way,”Una said, leading him out of the cell and past the charred remains of the three guards who never saw the sneak attack coming. Ancro was surrounded. He couldn’t tell if it was to protect him or to keep him from running off. He assumed both.
The changelings trotted down the hall at a relatively brisk pace that was giving Ancro some trouble keeping up. He didn’t think his cardio would’ve suffered that badly from his time in that small bubble. “Guess I should’ve waited thirty minutes after eating,” he groaned.
The other three changelings came to a stop that Ancro hadn’t noticed, and nearly ran face first into Una. She promptly slapped him, hard.
“We are in a hurry, and I have neither the mood nor the time deal with your ‘humor’,” She said, smacking him as Ancro opened his mouth to talk. “If you endanger the changelings on this mission, I will be sure that Chrysalis receives you in a box, with a tiny bow wrapped around it, are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Ancro said with a salute. Typically, he would’ve pushed her, but she gave off the vibes of someone who would really enjoy torturing anything too much. 
They rounded another corner, and Ancro suddenly became aware of a powerful presence heading towards him. It took him a second to recognize it as Cadence, through the panic she was letting off.

Shift and Specs ran through the prison, not believing how lucky they had been to get the assignment that led to them going right where they needed to go. They had their plan worked out down to the last second. They had calculated how long it would take for the parasprites to burst out of the ventilation system and flood the prison, causing chaos and disarray. While several inmates breaking out had led to similar results, it was a lot more violent than what they wanted. They had already seen too much violence their entire lives, the life of a changeling is anything but peaceful. They were outcasts in that they weren’t as violent with the ponies they replaced, or they just showed up as two entirely different ponies that hadn’t been seen before. Sure, the work for food was harder, but no one got hurt. Of course the majority of the changelings didn’t seem to care, and in fact relished their sadism as part of their heritage and their lives.
“Specs, you feel that?” Shift asked as they neared the checkpoint for maximum security.
“Yeah bro, I feel that,” Specs replied hesitantly, but containing her fear for her brother’s sake.
The duo stopped short of the guard post and saw the five ponies and alicorn through the reflection on one of the many crystals that provided the light in the caves.

“What’s going on? There was a cave-in? Somepony could be hurt?” Cadence asked the guards at the post for the umpteenth time. “I could be of help.”
“Sorry ma’am,” The guard replied, “but until we have deemed the situation under control we cannot allow you to pass.”
“How do you know if it’s under control?” Firecracker said, letting the agitation show in her voice.
“Somepony will come by and give us the all clear sign,” he replied, patiently flipping the page in a magazine.
“Are you supposed to do that on duty?” Firecracker asked the unusually lax guard. The changeling was losing his patience with this pony. Weren’t guards supposed to blindly follow orders and not ask questions? He looked behind them and smiled wickedly as his disguised dropped. 
There was a split second of fear on Firecracker’s face, but it was quickly replaced with anger as she bucked the changeling in the face and sent him soaring through the guard post. Hoplon was immediately on the other two guards and had wrestled them into a headlock.
“Princess, run, we can take care of them!” He exclaimed as one of them broke free and charged its horn for an attack, but he still had a hold on into a shield.
“B-but,” Cadence stammered.
“Don’t worry your majesty; we are more than able to take care of this scum,” Firecracker retorted, popping her neck.
Cadence just nodded and ran back to fetch the ponies who were guarding Ancro.
“Now, that wasn’t very nice,” the changeling who had been knocked through the small shack said, rising up from the rubble, all of his injuries healing. “You let our prey get away.”
“You’re going to want to stay down,” Firecracker said, spreading her wings, “or we’ll see just how fast you can heal.”
“I find that highly unlikely,” he retorted, a green flame enveloping his body. “You see, we are not like the ordinary rank and file from the invasion that you are so familiar with.”
“Yeah, so you’re just a bigger bug,” she said, quickly glancing at Hoplon who had been forced to let go of the changeling as it was consumed in magical fire. 
“There’s a bit more to it than that, little pony.” The changeling chuckled as a flame engulfed him. When the smoke had cleared, he was taller, leaner, and a second horn had grown atop his head. Where before, his forelegs were two-holed hooves, there were now three claws as long as his fangs had been before the transformation. Now, the fangs were as long as a unicorn’s horn. “We are the Praetorians, picked by Chrysalis herself.”

“I know what you’re thinking, Shift, and the answer is no,” Specs said, as she tasted the air around her little brother. “They are Praetorians. We can’t even get close to touching them.”
“I know.”
“I do agree, she is cute,”she said, citing the only reason her brother would risk his life for a pony.

Hoplon was suddenly and violently introduced to the stone wall behind him as the two changelings proceeded to beat the tar out of him with ease. Hoplon couldn’t remember the last time he had taken such a pounding. Even Iron Will didn’t hit that hard. His special talent was that he didn’t give up no matter how bad it hurt; he earned it when his best friend was being picked on and made them go after him instead.
Firecracker was trying to do something… anything… to get away from the beating and do some damage, but she was fast. He was faster, and it didn’t take long until she was coughing on the ground with both her wings broken. Standing over her, she caught a good glimpse of the changeling and it wasn’t like any creature she ever imagined could exist. It was the length of a griffin, but a lot sleeker in stature. On its fore legs where holed hooves had been, now there was a three-clawed hand, the rear legs resembled something similar to a cat, except the claws were larger by a terrifying margin. Its wings had become larger also, and an extra set had grown folding down the back with the other pair. A hard carapace covered the body. The head was also different, being more angular in shape with teeth as long as a unicorn’s horn. Another horn also adorned his head. 
The changeling put his claw on her head and squeezed, while pressing down with what felt like his entire weight. The air between the horns started to crackle as a fireball formed between them and a sadistic, twisted smile formed on his face as he drank in Firecrackers hopelessness. There was a flash.

“This is your fault!” Cadence yelled at Ancro as she tried to attack him through the green gunk the changeling’s had encased her in. They finally got her head covered, a most difficult task.
“Don’t look at me,”Ancro defended, “I only found about this plan five minutes ago.”
Cadence was about to make a retort, but they covered the entire cocoon in another layer of gunk, denying her the clear bit that Chrysalis had left for Celestia during the attack.
They got further down the hall and Ancro heard the sounds of a struggle. Thanks to his changeling senses, he knew it was a very one-sided fight. He felt the energy spike from a seriously charged attack, like several times more powerful than anything he could’ve mustered.
“Damn him and his love of overkill,” one of the changelings chuckled.
A blast came from down the hallway, and a changeling mid-transformation from something mean looking went flying down the hall, until it skidded to a halt along the ground. Two more blasts followed, and a pair of exhausted changelings walked through the haze and developed the deepest look of ‘you have got to be kidding me’. 
Una gestured with her head, and the other two took off after the two new changelings, leaving Ancro standing there wondering what the hell was going on. He didn’t stand there for long and quickly took his chance, trying to come up with a one-liner before deciding to keep it simple.
“Excuse me, Una?” Ancro said, tapping her on the shoulder.
“What do you wa-” She was cut off by a point blank blast from Ancro’s horn that knocked her back into the other three changelings who were just starting to get up. He caught Cadence with his magic before she could hit the ground and bolted off, silently feeling guilty for having hit a woman.

“What in the name of Tartarus is wrong with you!” Specs yelled to her brother as they bolted down the hallway, trying desperately to dodge the blast that came from the Praetorians. “You are aware you’ll probably never meet her right?”
“Yeah, I know,” he yelled back, his ears folded back and showing his depression. “Still, she was cute.”
“Shut up and run, you idiot,” Specs yelled as a fireball sailed over her, nearly singeing the membrane that adorned her head.

“Hey, Stigandr,” Scott said, as they snuck through the prisoner-occupied part of the prison. Graffiti decorated the walls, apparently recognizing this as that prison gang’s turf.
“Yeah, Scott?” The unicorn whispered.
“What do ponies go to jail for?”
Stigandr was about to say something along the lines of just how stupid that question was, then he realized it was in fact a really good question. Although, not one he would like to say he wanted answered. 
“I really don’t know,” he finally replied after a long silence.
“Well, I guess you two bitches are ‘bout to find out,” a wicked voice said from behind them. They turned and saw four rough-looking ponies smiling wickedly at them. The one who had spoken had several tear drops tattooed to his face. Stigandr stood in a confident fighting position. Scott showed his talons, ready for the fight.

Twilight’s brother was standing over a map in a tent somepony had set up for him. Absorbed entirely by the layout, occasionally he’d move a guard figurine around then put it back. Twilight wasn’t familiar with these kinds of maps, nor was she familiar with the tactics her brother was likely incorporating. She did, however, know what a big red circle meant on the map.
“Anything I can do to help?” She asked her brother.
“Not unless you can go back in time and warn me of this.”
“No, I’ve tried that before, it doesn’t work that well,” she said with a comforting smile.
“Damn.” 
“It’s going to be okay,” she said, putting her hoof on her brother’s shoulder. “Cadence is the best foal sitter in Equestria. She can handle a changeling and his two accomplices.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He sighed, “still… I’m worried it may not be just him.”
“Um…Twilight?”Fluttershy said quietly from behind them.
Twilight and Shining armor turned and noticed a small bat hanging from her mane. 
“Yes, Fluttershy?” Twilight asked, coaxing her friend along. “Who’s your friend?”
“This, this is Bruce,” she said quietly.
“Does Bruce know what’s going on in the caves?”
“Bruce says it’s really, really bad in there.” The blood drained from Shining Armor’s face. “He says some of the ponies that are locked up are now running around and there is fighting everywhere and some scary black bug ponies, and a lot of things in the vents, and it’s just really bad.”
Twilight turned to comfort her brother, but found he was already barking orders about garrisons and reinforcements and calling ponies in who were off duty on vacation. 
“Captain, we’re through,” a guard shouted as the rain had started to let up a little. A sign that Rainbow Dash was making headway, Twilight hoped.
“Twilight, you stay here and supervise the operation from above,” Shining Armor said, fastening his helmet. “We’ll make sure everything is settled down below.”
“Twahlight!” Applejack shouted, running through the slackening rain.
“Applejack, what’s wrong?”
“Please tell me y’all have seen Pinkie?” Applejack asked, running up to them.
“No wasn’t she with you clearing…out the…cave?” They facehoof, and called Shining Armor over to inform him of a new situation.

“That’s one so far, Stigs,” Scott chuckled, while shaking his wrist after knocking out one of the inmates. He turned to look back at his friend, “how many do you…have?”
“Three,” Stigandr said, not showing the first sign of fatigue as he casually trotted off towards what he hoped was maximum security. “Who knows, maybe if we can’t find a way back, we can get a job with the guard.”
“No,” Scott said blankly.
“What do you mean  “no”?”
“Just no,” Scott said, rubbing his talons through his feathered head.
“Why?”
“Because, I have full and complete faith that we are going to be finding that book with the way home fairly soo-...” Scott said, trying to stay calm as the thought of being stuck in Equestria until the day he died entered his mind.
“Out of my way!” A black bug-like pony shouted as it buzzed down the hallway. Scott didn’t think he had just performed a flying tackle-hug, on what he assumed was one of his best friends, who they had just found.
“Ancro, it’s you bud!” He squealed, squeezing the changeling tightly. “C’mon, we gotta get out of here before any more crazy stuff happens.”
“Hey Sco-“ Stigandr tried to say, as the bug-like creature struggled in his grasp.
“Dude man, how ya been! It’s been weird without ya,” he said, still squeezing the bug. “We met those six ponies you said we weren’t s’pposed to meet, but then…” His words fell silently out of his mouth like he was talking to someone who wasn’t in the loop.
“Scott, that’s not Ancro.” Stigandr said, and Scott let go of the bug. It fell to the ground, gasping for air.
“Well that’s disappointing, what do you recommend we do with it?”
“Run!” He said, jumping up and trying to dart off, but was just floating there in Stigandr’s magic.
“Run from what?” Stigandr said in serious tone, he was not one to be threatened.
“I believe he means me,” said the voice of a changeling that appeared from the shadows in the hallway, he buzzed his wings in anticipation as he looked at the unicorn and griffin.
“Ancro?” Scott asked hopefully.
“No Scott, that’s not Ancro,” Stigandr said through the hoof on his face.
“You two are not changelings?” He said, more with curiosity than an actual question.
“Yeah…what of it?” Scott said, squaring himself up in case things went bad.
“My squad was given orders by her highness to bring her Ancro, and if possible, the other two changelings that assisted him,” he said plainly. “But you two are not changelings, and obviously not under any control that is within his abilities.”
“…and?” Scott said, rolling his eyes.
“Nothing, I just assumed the higher being wouldn’t interact with the weaker.” He said, shrugging. “Now get out of the way, so I can dispatch that deserter.” He charged his horn but seemed shocked when Stigandr stepped up blocking the shot. “Look, I know you’re just a pony, but even you should know that a cha-“
Stigandr used his magic to interrupt the changeling’s monologue and send him down the hallway. Scott moved to give him a pat on the back, but the unicorn kept the same serious, battle-ready expression. Ancro would take hits like that in stride and sometimes push through them. That ability to heal mid-fight was kind of annoying. Still, Stigandr’s special talent was adapt and overcome, and so far he had done just that. Stigandr alerted Scott to stay on his guard, and they progressed.
They came into a large open area of the prison, three floors of barred cells and a recreational area that had what looked like a fully stocked gym and several tables lain out in various states, the most common of which being practically ruined. As the duo reached the center of the room, a sudden crackling sounded, and without thinking Stigandr pushed Scott and himself out of the way of the fireball that came crashing down from the ceiling. 
The changeling wasted no time talking as it pounced on them from its hiding spot on the ceiling. It took Scott a moment to collect himself after being pushed, and another moment to realize what was happening. It proved to be one moment too long, and the changeling punched him in the stomach hard enough to knock the wind out of the griffin. Before Scott could get air back in his lungs, he received a powerhouse haymaker to the side of the face, sending him crashing into a table. All this happened in less than two seconds. Stigandr charged his hooves and leapt at the changeling before it could recover from haymaker. 

Ancro knew just how low on emotional energy he was. He was starting to get the first very painful system of burn out. Carting around the alicorn was doing anything but helping. He had already given up on using the minimal amount of energy needed for blocks. He decided that was better suited for running. Besides, with the blocks, he wouldn’t be able to tell that four extremely pissed-off changelings were getting closer. Finally, he came to the one thing he hoped they would’ve gotten rid of when they turned the caves into a prison: The damn mine carts, and the ancient wooden rails that they rode on. 
Whimpering, he lowered Cadence’s squirming cocoon into the cart and hoped it would be followed quickly by himself, but that’s where he realized that his plan involved a tiny bit of luck.
“I’m going to break every bone in your body, and send you to Chrysalis in a box!” Una growled as her and her cohorts rounded the corner. “Now give me the cocoon.”
Ancro had a split second to think of a plan that would save Cadence, and maybe himself. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, a grin creeping across his face. ‘I always did have low self-worth.’  With the cockiest smile he could muster, he bucked the mine cart as hard as he could, and watched the rage in the changeling’s face reach terrifying levels. Ancro then stood in the best fighting stance he could maintain, prepared to receive the beating of his life. Time for denying the changelings their prize. As they started to close in, he tried to comfort himself that even a pyrrhic victory was still a victory.

(Big thanks to my editor/artist Sara for getting this done despite the sudden difficulties that come with having one’s laptop stolen. I hope she gets it back and the jerk who took it has many horrible awful things happen to him. Big thanks to my friends for being such great friends and inspiring the characters of the Triumvirate. Also since my editor’s laptop is stolen expect some level of delay between chapters I’m sorry for inconvenience. If you fav it like it and feel free to leave feedback and comments let me know how I did. Also like to thank Stigs for proofreading the story he says it was up to snuff, let me know.)

> Riot part 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 12
Riot part 2


Ancro turned to fly, but found himself in the telekinetic grasp of one of the changelings. He watched in horror as the cart rolled down the tracks and two of the changelings chased after it. Ancro, in desperation, fired a shot from his horn but the changelings didn’t even bother to avoid it. From looking at them, the power behind it wouldn’t have done anything to them if it had hit. Luckily, Ancro was a strategic thinker and knew not to aim for something he couldn’t hurt.
The fire raced ahead to the changelings and it exploded against the support beam in the tunnel. There was a slight rumble, and the changelings stopped short of running into a cave-in and being crushed beneath the rocks. They turned back and looked towards the relieved looking Ancro, their eyes narrowed. Their horns charged as they turned back towards the cave to blast it open.
“We don’t have time for that,” Una yelled, “we need to leave now.”
“What about the princess?” They hissed.
“Forget her, we’re running up the clock.” She turned to face Ancro, her rage veiled by a thin mask. “First, I’m going to cut off your legs, and then I’m going to shatter your spine and give you to her majesty in a nice box with a pretty pink bow.” Ancro realized that she was the sadistic type that really did enjoy this way too much for it to be healthy. 
“I prefer the color blue,” Ancro said, or would’ve said, had claws not been playing tickle the organs,so all that came out was a disorganized series of screams and groans. There was another groan, but this time it came from the vent above them.

Specs darted down the halls at a blistering speed, trying to get distance between herself and the praetorian that had been breathing down her neck. She was fairly happy to be feeling him get further and further away. Then she ran into a dead end.
The praetorian had been pursuing her feverishly, and while they couldn’t feed on other changelings, their emotions were still delectable… Especially fear. It was such a luscious taste, especially from a changeling. They are such a proud race that tasting fear from one was a delicacy. He stopped flying and started to walk, sensing the fear bleeding off her. He rounded the corner at a slow pace, trying to bring the fear up to an even higher apex.
He rounded the corner, a sadistic smile on his face. Specs stood her ground halfway down the hall. He licked his lips, tasting the fear in the air, even though she wasn’t showing it. ‘It’s okay,’ he thought, as he smiled wickedly while approaching her, ‘I’ll enjoy making her show it.’ 
Suddenly, the fear vanished as Specs pulled out a harmonica. The praetorian stopped his paced walk down the hall and cocked his eyebrow. She blew into the harmonica and smiled confidently.
“If that’s all you’re going to do to defend yourself,” he said popping his neck, “I will be getting started.”
She took a step back, her smile still confident as she blew a few notes out of the harmonica. The changeling walked onward, steadily becoming less amused.
“Do you know any good torturing songs?” The praetorian growled as he got closer. It wasn’t so much the harmonica that was annoying him, the buzzing noise that came from the vents was getting annoying. “If you’re a masochist, I’m just letting you know I don’t believe in safety words.” 
The buzzing turned into a rumbling noise that got closer and closer, until it stopped and several colored puff balls with clear, bug-like wings popped out of the vent.
“Just a hint, you may want to run.” She smiled as she put the harmonica to her lips. Her action only seemed to anger the praetorian, who transformed into the creature she was so familiar with. It didn’t matter where you were from, or who you were, every changeling dreamed of being able to turn into that thing, even if it was just for a second. “Turning into an Apex won’t help you.”
“Yes, beware the small fuzz balls of doom,” it growled, in a much deeper, more sinister sounding voice. “Now I’m going to break every bone in your body, and laugh at your pain.”
Specs didn’t say anything; she just smiled and blew on her harmonica one last time.

Stigandr barely avoided the backhand and blocked the follow-up punch. He didn’t notice the kick, though. It landed squarely in the jaw, and sent him reeling back on his hind legs, exposing his stomach to the other leg. As if in slow motion, Stigandr watched the changeling raise its knee and saw the snap of the round house kick. He felt it, and heard it, too. It dulled the feeling of the table he had landed on.
Scott was up now, and was desperately trying to hit the extremely agile creature that seemed to have more fun taunting him than actually hitting him. Every time the griffin would throw a punch or slash with his claws, the changeling would merely step out of place by an inch, or sometimes even less. He knew he wasn’t getting close, the changeling was taunting him and that infuriated Scott to no end. Scott bull-rushed the changeling, and just as he was within an inch of him, he felt his body become rigid and a soft green light hazed his vision.
Using its magic, the changeling flung Scott into the far wall. Not with a lethal amount of force, but what he hoped was just enough to remove him from the fight. Stigandr had gotten up by now, and charged his horn. The changeling turned with a smile on his face.
“Good, you’re still up,” he said, his voice full of mirth, “I’d be disappointed if I went to all this effort to tra-“
A massive amount of force sent the changeling flying backwards at incredible speed. Stigandr watched with some satisfaction as it sailed toward the wall. Then with one flap of its wings, all movement stopped, and it righted itself before charging again. Stigandr went on his guard and charged his horn, hitting the changeling with another, more concentrated blast. The changeling stopped in midair for a second before continuing its charge. Stigandr barely made it out of the way of the horned head, but was clothes-lined by one the changeling’s outstretched arms. The changeling got behind him and with one ‘arm’ wrapped around the unicorn’s neck, and the other holding onto the horn, the changeling lifted up on its hind legs and let gravity do the work.
Stigandr couldn’t breathe and couldn’t use magic to alleviate his weight. The changeling’s height made it impossible to get a footing, or… hoofing, and step around him like he was trained to do. Suddenly, the changeling let out a scream and released his grip on the unicorn’s horn to backhand whatever had just cut his back.
Scott was ready for the backhand, and ducked beneath the wild swing. Coming up from the duck, he landed a haymaker across the changeling’s face and while it didn’t have the desired effect of sending him soaring across the room like the ones he received, the satisfaction was still there when he saw the creature spit out some green blood. Then, in small puff of green fire, its face healed and the slashes on the back closed up. To top it off, Scott was pretty sure he messed up his shoulder when he threw that punch. Regardless, he got the changeling’s attention, if only momentarily.
Scott had distracted the changeling just long enough for Stigandr to use his magic to push the changeling forward, and the unicorn land squarely on all for hooves. As soon as his hooves hit the ground, he collapsed. His front legs bucked up with his back, breaking the changelings loosened grip and sending him into the air. This time he didn’t charge, he just hovered there for a moment, floating back and forth, staring at them with apparent frustration, 
“Do you think you can blast him like you were?” Scott whispered in his all too loud voice, keeping both eyes on the changeling, while desperately trying not to show how bad he was hurting by hiding behind his wings.
“Unless you can follow up with something, I don’t think it’ll do any good,” Stigandr said.
“Damn.”
“You should know I can hear everything you just said,” the changeling said, landing on the wall beneath an air conditioning duct. He wiggled his ears for emphasis.
“So I take it that your hearing isn’t that good, normally?” Stigandr said with a smile, “Hey Scott, how loud can you get again?”
Scott didn’t say anything, he just grinned and screamed in a voice that shook the entire cave network. Stalactites shook as the griffin’s loud voice echoed through, being heard by everypony and changeling. Including the one who was in the cafeteria with them, unfortunately he didn’t seem to care. The changeling smiled and shook its head, and its horns changed shape. They were further apart, and at an incredibly shallow angle. An oval of green fire started to form.
“I’m afraid you’re a few hundred years too late to take advantage of that feature,” the changeling said. “I probably should’ve done this a while ago, but I was so concerned with doing as little harm as possible. You two, however, seem to like doing things the hard way.”
There was a groaning noise from the duct, which drew the changeling’s attention away from the spell.

“Did you hear that?” Twilight said, shortly after the scream had echoed its way out of the cave. They had gone in and set up a base in the warden’s office, a grizzled old griffin that was standing on the other side of the room, and making Fluttershy very nervous.
“Twi, I think everypony in Canterlot heard that yell.” She looked over to Fluttershy and coaxed her on with a warm smile, “It’s alright sugar cube, you remember how that griffin’s voice carries.”
“Yes, I guess you’re right,” she said, in a tone scarcely above a whisper.
“It’s still hard to believe,” she said, looking deeper into the caves, “that the whole time they were under his mind control.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Shining Armor said, “our top priorities right now are finding Cadence and getting this prison under control.” 
“Do you all here a buzzing sound?” The warden asked, looking toward the vent directly above his head.

All over the prison, vents burst virtually simultaneously, sending thousands upon thousands of the parasprites into the prison, stacking even more chaos on top of the riot and fighting. Twilight and her friends looked out over the mess that had descended upon the prison. The warden barely raised an eyebrow as they got into his beard. They flooded the atrium where Scott and Stigandr were fighting the changeling, buying them time to get past him. The small creatures flooded down on top of the praetorian that thought he had corned Specs. He was unfortunate enough to have the double whammy of the vent landing on top of his face before being crushed under the flood. Shift found himself swept up in the multicolored tide, and carried off without any control. Ancro looked on in a mixture of horror and childlike fascination as Una’s claw turned into a bone-like blade. As she raised it to take off the first of Ancro’s limbs that they had decided to remove, a tidal wave of parasprites came flying down the hall in all their adorable fury. The changelings quickly became disorganized as they were pushed off towards the cliff. Una lost her grip, and Ancro went plummeting over the ledge into the black abyss below. All the while wondering why they didn’t have guard rails along the ledge.

Specs trotted through the prison, trying to find her brother so she could leave. She had already given up on saving the changeling. The praetorians had beaten her to it, and she wasn’t about to go and take them on again without the element of surprise or numbers on her side. Serious numbers, she had seen what the ten praetorians could do to a griffin village first-hoof. The griffins blamed the destruction on a meteorite.
She pressed up against the wall as several more inmates passed by, screaming about how the parasprites were in their manes.
“Scott, pick up the pace, we don’t want that changeling to catch us,” a pony called out. All she could think about was how unusual that name was.

“Dude, what if he’s not there?” Scott asked, out of breath, and trying to keep up with the pony through the maze of multicolored, purring, adorable insects.
“We’ll keep looking,” Stigandr said. “Even if we have to go all the way to the changeling capitol or hive, or whatever they call it.” 
“Okay, just making sure we have plan B,” Scott said, looking over his shoulder to be sure they weren’t being followed. Satisfied that he didn’t see a wall of green flame barreling down on them, he turned back. When he brought his head back around, he saw something that caught his attention. Screaming, he lunged down the hall and grabbed the changeling that had peaked around the corner.
“I’m going to take a guess and go ahead and say you’re not our friend Ancro, are you?” Scott said, holding onto the changeling with all his might. Stigandr walked over and brushed some of the parasprites out of his eyes. 
“Hey Scott,” The unicorn spoke up in a calm voice. “I don’t think he can breathe.” His horn lit up and the unicorn loosened the griffin’s grip around the changeling’s neck. Her horn lit up, but Scott grabbed it and cancelled the charge, which burnt.
“Let me go!” The changeling hissed in its weird, layered voice that never ceased to creep the griffin out when Ancro used it.
“Not until you tell us where you are taking our friend!”
“I don’t know what you are talking about!” She pleaded, “I’m just looking for my brother.”
“We just ran into him and he attacked us.”
“Scott, she means the other changeling,” Stigandr said calmly. “The one that ran, terrified, in the opposite direction when the other changeling showed up.”
“Yeah, that sounds like him,” she sighed. “It’s good to know he got away.”
“Now if you would just be kind enough to answer our question?” Stigandr said, levitating her out of Scott’s grip. She relaxed as her feet touched the ground, only to be slammed back into the wall by the unicorn's magic. “Now.”

“Of course, all this happens the week before retirement,” the warden said in an indifferent grumble.
“Warden, do you have any instruments?” Twilight desperately asked the griffin.
“Yes, they are in a storage room in the minimum security cafeteria,” the griffin replied.
“Do you know any ponies who could play them?” She asked.
“Yeah,” he smiled slightly. “The inmates.”
“…The inmates,” Twilight blinked in shock, “you mean the ones that are….”
“Rioting at this very moment?” He asked with a pause before laughing. “Ironic, isn’t it?”
“We’ll be fine.” Shining Armor said, completely ignoring the parasprites. “These are disciplined ponies of the royal guard. A few parasprites aren’t going to hurt them.” 
“Okay, if you’re sure,” Twilight said. “What’s the plan?”
“The plan is for you to stay here while I get things under control,” her brother said in the tone she heard him bark orders with.
Twilight’s brow furrowed. “I thought we were doing this together?”
“Twilight, I’m sorry, but it’s just too dangerous.”
“And defeating Discord wasn’t,” she replied sarcastically. “What about Nightmare Moon, that certainly wasn’t a cake walk.”
“Twilight, this isn’t open for discussion.”
“I’m saying it is,” Twilight’s eyes narrowed as she challenged her brother’s gaze. She scarcely noticed that his horn flashed, and all around her, the world went pink.
“Keep an eye on her,” Shining Armor ordered the warden, who gave an apathetic two-talon salute. The captain went back to issuing orders.

Ancro limped down the hall as best he could in his guard façade. Parasprites were everywhere, which is something he was glad for, it would allow certain aspects of his disguise to falter and nopony would notice. Everything hurt and he kept replaying the fight in his mind, trying to win it. Each time it concluded the same, sometimes worse. He had to admit that he was completely outmatched, and that really pissed him off. ‘On the plus side’ he reassured himself, ‘at least I managed to get Cadence out of there’.
It had taken a long time for him to pick himself up off the cave floor. Even then, it was reluctant. Only when he heard the buzzing of the changelings’ wings had he decided to move. Then it was slow going, and he was rationing out all of his energy between healing and keeping himself from collapsing from all the background magic that was flooding his senses.
He turned down a hallway and heard a distant tuneless humming, followed by a burning sensation of an extremely energetic presence. Around the corner popped a pink pony with a wild bouncy mane, that Ancro just wanted to poke and see if it stayed in place.
“Miss Pie,” he said in his guard voice, slipping further into disguise, “we need to hurry up and get you somewhere safe.” Ancro wasn’t lying, there were a lot of places she needed to be. In the middle of a prison, surrounded by hostile ponies and changelings, was not one of them.
“Okeydokeylokey,” Pinkie Pie said, and Ancro could barely contain himself. In his eyes, Pinkie Pie is best pony. They were halfway down the hall when she stopped, and looked at her hoof for some reason.
“Ma’am, is there a problem?” Ancro asked, wondering if his favorite pony had been injured in some way.
“Nope,” she said, smiling widely, to which he shrugged. Ancro turned back around, and a moment later felt himself propelled forward at great speed until a wall stopped him, painfully. Ancro’s eyes came back into focus and he found his disguise had faded and he was covered with confetti and streamers. Pinkie Pie was standing behind the smoking barrel of her party cannon, and all Ancro could think about was ‘so, that’s what that feels like’.
“Pinkie sense?” He asked, smiling through the fresh batch of pain, hoping he hadn’t learned what broken ribs felt like he struggled to his feet.
“Mmhmm,” she said, “now you’re going to undo that mind control spelly thing you did to Scott and Stiggy, or else.” How is it possible to cock the barrel of a cannon?
“Pinkamina,” Ancro said, using her formal name to get some footing in the conversation and to gain her full attention before she fired the party cannon again. “I don’t do mind control spells. Besides, why would I need to use that on my two best friends, who I would readily go to Tartarus and back for?”
“…you sure you’re not lying, are you?” She said, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Yes, I’m positive I’m not lying; cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” he said, putting his holed hoof over his eye.
“Okeydokeylokey,” she said, bouncing over to him and helping him up. “So where are you heading?”
‘Well, that was easy,’ he thought. “No idea,” Ancro said, “just hoping that I don’t run into anypony or changeling, or any really tough parasprites that want to hurt me.”
“That’s silly,” Pinkie Pie said. “Parasprites don’t hurt anypony, they just eat everything.”
Her voice normally would’ve driven him to vomit at this point with a migraine, but surprisingly it didn’t seem to bother him. He assumed it had something to do with her special talent. Regardless, he was happy that he was getting to spend time with Pinkie Pie. He was seriously about to lose all containment on himself and go super critical with joy. He also scratched off the universe-ending theory involved with meeting the mane 6, since the world was not going insane and falling to chaos. As far as he could tell, it was the typical chaos that came with Equestria.

“Look I’m not with the other changelings,” Specs repeated to Scott for the umpteenth time as they trotted down the hall. “I’m just here with my brother.”
“On what, a family vacation?” The griffin replied, as he flew alongside them to ease the pain on his shoulder. 
“No, we were here to free Ancro,” she replied, practically facehoofing as she spat out the changeling’s name. Who named their larva ‘Ancro’? “we thought he was rogue like the rest of us.”
Scott choked on a parasprite.
“After the attack, a few of us got the idea to just up and leave,” she said. “The less sadistic ones, that is.”
“Less sadistic?” Stigandr asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Yeah, we’re all a little sadistic,” she shrugged. “Of course, we didn’t have anything to really compare ourselves to. Until we got to Equestria, that is.”
“Go on,” Scott said after she paused for a few seconds.
“It’s pretty simple, actually,” She said. “When you feed off of emotions, you develop a certain taste for them. Love is our bread and butter, it’s the most nutritious by a large margin. Other emotions though, they’re what you all call…” The changeling paused in thought. “Junk food.”
“How so?”
“Not nutritious in the least, but sure as hell tasty.” She smiled in a way that made both the griffin and the unicorn’s skin crawl.
Suddenly, the changeling stopped at a corner and froze, signaling both of them to do the same. A group of changelings buzzed down the hall, pushing aside the swarm of parasprites and burning those unlucky enough to not move. When they had flown past, Specs turned and spoke.
“Well, that plan’s out the window.”
“What do you mean?” Scott whispered.
“Those were the changelings that ran off with your friend, and they were pissed, and minus your friend.”
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me,” She said, fully expecting to hear some level of scoffing, because… who trusts a changeling? Instead, she was met with agreement, they actually trusted her. Her face betrayed her shock.
“Don’t look so surprised,” Stigandr replied. “If you were with them, you would’ve turned us in.”
“They went that way, we should be following them,” she replied, letting the conversation drop there. She didn’t like to be figured out.

Twilight beat her hooves against the pink barrier her brother had trapped her in. If she hadn’t exhausted her magic teleporting all of her friends to Canterlot, she may have been able to tear through it. Applejack and Fluttershy had gone out to try to round up as many of the parasprites as they could and help the guards concentrate on retaking the prison.
“It’s not going to work,” the warden said, as he sipped his coffee after shooing away the parasprites. 
“Shouldn’t you be out there in your prison trying to keep it under control?” Twilight grumbled as she kept bucking the barrier.
“Not my prison,” he said taking another sip. “My replacement is currently undergoing his first week of actual work; I’m just here to see if he passes or fails.”
“So, you’re not even going to help?”
“Not a lot I can do without undermining his or your brother’s authority.” He replied, “If I go out there and start acting like it’s my job to run this place, now it makes my replacement look incompetent, which hurts how the rest of the guards and even the inmates view him.”
“Can’t you do anything to help me?” She pleaded.
The old griffin put a talon under his beak and tapped it in thought. “Y’know, Shining Armor’s shield spell doesn’t account for underground, only the surface.” He stepped out from behind his desk and walked over towards the door. “I’m going to get some fresh air.”
Twilight thought about what he had said and tapped her hoof against one of the wooden floor boards. She smiled when she heard it reverberate in only the way a wooden floor could when nothing was beneath. She grinned and charged her horn with what little magic she had restored from the teleport. 

Shift was hiding in a storeroom below the warden’s office. The old griffin had just left, and was heading out. Now if only some other guards would head anywhere but in, or leave with a scroll, he may have a chance of getting out of here. He wasn’t worried about his sister, she was the one who always had a plan and always kept her cool. He knew Specs would meet up with him and the rest of the deserters tonight, and they would all share a good laugh before packing up and leaving before the praetorians could track them down. He heard the faintest sound of a unicorn’s horn charging above him. He looked up just in time to get showered with splinters and a lavender unicorn that he was all too familiar with from the time she blasted him, when his platoon had unsuccessfully attempted to capture the elements of harmony. She had pinned him down and blasted him from hooves to head with her magic. It didn’t hurt so much as it completely overloaded his system and incapacitated him. Regardless, underneath this mare was the last place he wanted to be, ever again.

Twilight had just regained her focus when whatever she had landed on smiled up at her awkwardly. It took her a total of two seconds to go from dazed, to frightened, to confused, then finally to enraged. Her eyes narrowed and her horn glowed. Yes, she was aware she could scarcely light a candle right now, but the changeling didn’t know that and she was counting on bluffing.
“Get moving,” she growled, and the black insect complied, heading towards the door. “Transform and lead me to Cadence and your friends.”
“But I-“ He started, then her horn started glowing and he assumed the identity of the guard he had been hiding as. There was no use arguing with her, even if he had succeeded he would consider it a miracle if they didn’t kill him on sight, given the current state of things. He led her back into the prison the same way he had been washed out by the parasprites.

“Hey Pinkie Pie,” Ancro groaned, feeling slightly better but still not up to a fight. “Do you have a map of the prison?”
“Well duh,” she in her happy voice that made Ancro squee. “How else did I find you?”
The element of laughter seemed somewhat shocked when the changeling rushed forward to hug her. Ancro was a fairly huggy person, and being incapable of giving any had been torture. In his opinion, hugs made everything better. Even as a human, he would argue this point and use them to prank his friends by squeezing the air out of them. Pinkie didn’t seem to mind, and in fact returned the favor and a small hug war started between them. The much stronger earth pony won. Ancro argued that he put up a good fight.
“May I see it?”Ancro asked patiently, after they stared at each other for several long seconds.
“Sure,” she handed him the map and he rolled it out on the ground, and gave it a hard look.
“Pinkie Pie, do you know where we are?”
“Well duh silly, we’re in a cave,” she said as she hopped around in circles, making an audible springing noise that baffled Ancro’s inner scientist to no end.
“No silly, I mean on the map.” She hopped over to the map and looked at it extremely hard. Ancro had an internal face palm. He stood by for a few more seconds, wondering if she was seriously looking for them on the map or just being a smart-ass. “Pinkie, I’m being figurative, what I’m saying is where are we located in the caves at this present moment, located anywhere on that map, and if so where is it located, so as that I may get a bearing on our current location and find out where the mine cart Cadence was on got sent to.”
“Oh, I knew that,” she said in an awkward voice that dictated the contrary. “We’re here,” the pink pony pointed to a spot on the map. “And all the mine carts run to the laundry room here.” She pointed to a spot that wasn’t that far away.
“Thank yo-“ Ancro called back to her as the pony stared intently at something on the map.
“Well, except for one.” Pinkie Pie said, “The one closest to maximum security goes to the furnace.”
There are moments in life when words are not necessary for exchange, and everything is communicated perfectly fine through glances, and panicked gestures and screaming down the hallway amidst what amounted to flying tribbles with a broader color spectrum. This was one of those times.

(Well finally got this done don’t worry next chapter I’m hopefully going to get them out of the prison. Feedback is always welcome whether it be positive or negative. It helps me make this a better story for your enjoyment. Big thanks to my wonderful editor/artist Sara, who I’ve also commissioned to draw one of the transformed praetorians it should be on my blog by tomorrow if anyone wants to see it. Also big thanks to my best friends who inspired the other two-thirds of the Triumvirate. Once again let me know how I did!)

> Luck, Chance, and Chaos
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 13
Luck, Chance, and Chaos.

“What do you mean, you won’t let me in?” Rainbow Dash said to the stone-faced guard.
“Sorry ma’am, but you do not have an appointment to visit the palace.” He had stood there repeating himself, for what felt like an hour.
“But this is an emergency, changelings are attacking the prison.”
“So we’ve been informed.” The guard had repeated that multiple times as well. He just didn’t display his shock upon hearing the news. He still had the bruise from the library when the changeling knocked a bookshelf on him. “It’s being taken care of.”
“But why hasn’t the princess come down and taken care of it?”
“The princess is in Fillydelphia,” the guard said plainly, “one of our guards has been dispatched with a letter informing her of the situation.”
“What about Luna?”
“Yes, what about Princess Luna.” The guard put emphasis on the princess part, since she had forgotten to add the proper title.
“Why not wake her up?” The pegasus practically growled.
“Ma’am, the captain has erected his shield spell around the prison, nopony or changeling is getting in or out of the prison without his knowledge. There have been no other incursions, and there is no need to wake Princess Luna.”
“But this is important, what if-“
“She was already awake regardless; she was grabbing a midday snack when she heard the news and is preparing to go to the prison as we speak.”
“Yeah, bu-“ She paused as the guards words clicked inside her head, “Okay thanks.”
Just then a soaking wet Rarity made it up the hill and saw rainbow dash wave to the guard.
“Oh there you are Rarity, don’t worry everything is taken care of.” She smiled, oblivious to the rage the marshmallow mare had building inside her. She still hadn’t gotten her back for leaving her in the desert with Pinkie pie. The pegasus flew off through the increasingly driving rain, leaving Rarity standing at the gate.
“May I help you, ma’am?” The guard said.

“Which way did you say the nearest garbage chute was?” Ancro hollered back towards the bouncy pink pony.
“First hallway on the left,” she replied with an urgent tone.
They reached the trash chute, and without hesitating, Ancro leapt headfirst through it. A second after fully committing to the jump, did he realize that he just leapt head first into a garbage chute. He heard the distant ‘weeee’ as Pinkie Pie followed him down and into the myriad of interesting smells. ‘At least it’s not the sewers’ he thought, as he kept plummeting, and saw a dim light at the end of the literal tunnel.

“Keep walking,” Twilight prodded when the changeling stopped.
“Shhhh,” He said, hugging the wall.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” she said, lighting up her horn in a threatening manner.
“They’ll kill us both!” He whispered. Reluctantly, Twilight got next to the wall just as three changelings flew by. This baffled Twilight, seeing as how he was a changeling, the changeling that had been locked up for breaking into the library and brawling with thirty palace guards. They had to be pretty tough to scare him; either that or it was a rouse to make her lower her guard. Something she was determined not to do. They wouldn’t be sneaking up on her. She prodded the changeling onwards.

“Captain, the prisoners are all being corralled,” a guard said joyfully. “We are also reporting that the changelings are on the move.”
“How many?” Shining Armor asked as chits were levitated onto the map of the prison, representing the sightings.
“Less than fifteen and more than seven,” he said as he finished placing the chits on the map. The guard looked up and solemnly answered the question that was hanging in the air. “I’m sorry, but there hasn’t been a sign of your wife yet.”
The captain of the guard didn’t say anything, just nodded. “When we can spare the guards we need to move on the changelings.”
“Yes, sir.” His subordinates saluted and began giving orders. Shining Armor didn’t pay attention, though. He was busy staring holes in the map trying to find a clue, a hint to where Cadence could be. Trapped in a cocoon on a mine cart, heading towards a furnace, didn’t cross his mind.

“Pinkie, you said there’s a switch that changes the track’s course, correct?” Ancro asked, as they made their way through the carts filled with garbage.
“Uh-huh.” She nodded, still smiling and making her way forward, despite being surrounded by the foulest odor ever concocted.
Ancro had opted to fly, when he did the quick math and realized it was more tiring to hop from cart to cart. He had asked if Pinkie Pie needed a lift, but she seemed obliged to turn him down. At first it confused him and offended him to some extent, and then he remembered he was a changeling and thus she didn’t trust him. He was right to think that she still didn’t trust him.
“So, how long have you all been friends?”
“The three of us?” Ancro asked rhetorically, and thought back to his freshman year in highschool. “Six years.”
“Wow, that’s a long time,” She said with amazement. “Would you fight Cerberus too?”
“Yeah,” Ancro said, with an intentionally deranged chuckle. She didn’t seem taken aback by it, she just saw it as time for an evil chuckle, of which they had. The duo made their way through the carts of trash.
“Hey Pinkie,” Ancro asked as he buzzed forward above the carts of trash. “Is your Pinkie Sense going off?”
“Only burning hoof and itchy ear,” she replied, somehow popping up ahead of Ancro. “I’m still not quite one hundred percent sure what burning hoof is, but itchy ear means I’m going to be digging through a lot of trash.”
“You don’t know what your own Pinkie sense means?”
“Well yeah,” She replied. “I didn’t know what twitchy tail meant until a flower vase landed on my head.”
Ancro chuckled under his breath as the various theories of what burning hoof meant, they all added up to the singular meaning that they were from another universe. He would have to keep an eye on that in case anyone else showed up. His train of thought was cut short when up ahead he saw the green cocoon the changelings had trapped Cadence in.
Ancro darted forward, gaining ground on the mine cart as it rolled deeper into the mine. He nearly smacked on the wall as he came to a corner, and found the tracks traveling downward in a spiral. He dived down, desperate to catch the cart. His faint hope that the increasing temperature was only him, faded quickly when he saw a red light at the bottom of the spiral shaft.
Mine carts full of garbage would roll down the tracks, stop above the fire, dump their stuff, then follow the tracks to other parts of the prison to pick up more trash and repeat the cycle. Ancro had no idea how the mine carts stopped and went and dumped the trash out, but he highly suspected magic may have been involved in some way.
The changeling was on the brink of exhaustion, when he caught up with the cart. His first reaction was to try to pick up the cocoon. First, he tried it with magic. It was six inches off the ground when he realized he didn’t have the power to lift it. Then, he tried using muscle where his magic had failed. This time he managed to lift it a foot out of the cart before he realized it wasn’t going to work. Getting hot and desperate, he got in front of the cart and tried to push it to a stop as the spiraling track straightened. He watched from his front row seat as the number of carts between Cadence and the dump point got closer. Barely feeling the cart slow, he looked around desperately for an emergency stop button, or a lever to make it change course. No such luck. The changeling flew to the side and charged his horn in desperation.
Ancro fired at the side of the cart, and knocked it and Cadence off the tracks and away from the furnace. With that crisis solved, he was met with another one. Cadence was falling towards the ground, still trapped in her cocoon. He flew towards the cocoon, but failed to completely look where he was going or what he was flying over. A sudden updraft from the furnace scorched his wings, and sent him careening away from the cocoon.
Ancro struggled to regain control and find the cocoon. He managed to regain control and flew around the furnace, trying to find where the cocoon had fallen.
“Where did it go?” He said to himself.
“Ancro,” Pinkie Pie called out. Ancro looked around, frantically searching for the location of the pink pony who he had almost forgotten about. He finally found her, with her forehooves wrapped around one of the supports for the track. In her rear hooves was the cocoon. He wasn’t even going to ask how she got there. She was Pinkie Pie, and that was, and always would be, answer enough for him.
“Well, now that the crisis has been averted,” Ancro said when they had finally managed to get the cocoon on the ground, “I think I’m ready for my nap.”
“Nope,” Pinkie Pie replied. “You don’t get a nap. You can, however, get Cadence out of this cocoon.”
“Can’t you do it?” Ancro whined as he flopped on the ground.
“Nope.” Pinkie Pie said, "I wouldn't know where to begin."
“Fine,” Ancro groaned and thought 'like I would?' He poked the cocoon questioningly. The changeling had never used the stuff. He didn’t even know how to make it. Hell until a little while ago he didn't even know where it came from.
“Why don’t you use your magic fire-ray thingy?” Pinkie Pie asked, poking her head over his shoulder.
“I’m pretty much spent, that’s why,” Ancro replied, looking around in the dancing light of the furnace for a sharp rock. “I could, but I wouldn’t be able to cope.”
“Huh?”
“I wouldn’t have enough magic left to block out all the background magic, and I’d hurt, a lot,” he said with a bland, clarifying tone, while he walked around in a virtual trance. He had reached the level of exhaustion where, if he stopped, he would fall asleep. Something he craved back on Earth. In a prison, surrounded by dangerous changelings that want him dead, it was a bit more of a curse. 
Ancro found a rock that he hoped would be suitably sharp, and went to work on the cocoon.

Una had reunited with the rest of her squad that was still alive. Seven changeling praetorians in total, not including herself, or her commander in the laundry room. They searched the surrounding area for Ancro’s body. He couldn’t have gotten far. While she and four others dredged the water, three others worked to clear the tunnel Cadence had rolled down. 
“Una,” one of the praetorians spoke up, while they flew over the water through the parasprites. “What will we tell the commander?”
“We will not tell him anything, until we find either a body of Cadence, or of that traitorous bastard. Preferably both.” She replied in a tone that could freeze water.
“Yes ma’am.” There was a crash that signaled the tunnel Cadence had rolled down was clear. Una sighed, at least this wasn’t a total loss. Her squad flew off down the tunnel. Yes, the changeling had been her mission, but Cadence would be a bonus so sweet, Chrysalis may let her live. Even if it was only the princess’s corpse. She left three behind to continue searching for the changeling’s body. Maybe they would be able to turn this day around.

“They went this way,” Specs whispered, as they made their way through the tunnels. Had everything gone as planned, her, Shift, and Ancro would be well on their way out of the prison and heading towards Cloudsdale, Manehattan, or any other places where she knew they could hide. Being held captive by his two friends who were neither changelings, nor under any sort of control spell, hadn’t been part of her plan.
“Are you sure?” The griffin growled, trying to sound intimidating. It would work better if he wasn’t constantly working his shoulder. All things considered, it was the unicorn with the fat q-tips on his flank that worried her. His horn had been on a dull glow this whole time, like it was getting ready for a spell. She could sense the spell being formed also, but it was never completed, always half-way done.
“Yes, I’m sure,” she said, rolling her eyes at the griffin. A gesture she knew would go unnoticed, as not having visible pupils had its benefits.
They approached a ledge with a set of tracks and a tunnel at the other end. Scott was about to fly across, when Specs stopped him. He was about to ask what was wrong, when he found he couldn’t open his mouth. He was about to lash out at the changeling, then he realized the aura was brown instead of changeling green. He looked at Stigandr, who gestured towards the chasm. That’s when Scott noticed the three changelings searching the water.
“I think we can take them,” Scott whispered.
“They are all praetorians,” Specs replied. A groan came from the griffin’s throat as the blood drained from his face. Specs couldn’t help but smile, tasting the griffin’s ego crash.
“How long does it take for them to transform?” Stigandr asked.
“Not long enough,” Specs answered. “We’d have to dispose of two of them in order to have a chance. We’d also have to hope that another one isn’t sitting around waiting to spring and ambush on anything thinking the same thing.”
“Can’t you just sense them?” Scott asked.
“Praetorians know how to hide,” she said. “Part of their training is they have to sneak into Chrysalis’s throne room. If they get caught, they draw lots and the loser gets killed by their team mates.”
Scott was chilled by the nonchalant attitude in which she said that. This changeling was creeping him out, and he couldn’t wait to be rid of her.
“Any ideas?” Scott asked, trying to hide his shivering.
“We sneak across very carefully,” Stigandr replied, standing up and started to silently walk across the tracks. The unicorn’s magic tugged her across. She immediately followed, not wanting to give the praetorians any reason to look up, and the feeling of a unicorn’s magic is a good reason. Scott flapped his wings and followed behind her, silently gliding after them.

Cadence emerged from her cocoon. Gasping for air and somewhat sticky, the first thing she became aware of was the changeling standing over her with a sharp rock. Granted, the dancing lights of the furnace didn’t help to set the mood much. So Ancro couldn’t really be upset with her negative reaction. She kicked him in the face a few times, and considering she was wearing shoes, she was able to knock Ancro back and give him a black eye. The force of the blows was enough to send him backpedaling, and head first into a rock. Luckily Pinkie Pie was there to intervene.
“Whoa, calm down Cadence,” She said, popping up between a terrified Cadence and bruised Ancro. “Ancro’s been trying to help you.”
She immediately backed away from Pinkie Pie. Not trusting that she wasn’t a changeling too, her eyes were still wide, but she narrowed them and started charging her horn. She didn’t know any real fighting spells. She did, however, know the spell to reverse a changeling’s disguise. Pinkie Pie just shrugged, and took the blast of magic that knocked her back.
“Are you happy?” She answered, shaking her head clear. Cadence still kept her horn pointed at the pink pony.
’She may not be a changeling’, Cadence thought, ‘But she could still be under their control.’
“How do I know if you’re not under their spell?” Cadence asked, while her eyes darted around, looking for an exit.
“Well of course I’m not, silly,” Pinkie said, and put a hoof on her chin in thought. “He doesn’t have the magic to control anypony, and he doesn’t believe in that sort of stuff.” 
“How do you know he isn’t lying?” The princess followed the tracks with her eyes, and found several tunnels that empty carts were going into.
“Pinkie sense didn’t go off,” she replied, with a grin on her face.
“Yeah, but they have mind control magic like they used on Shining Armor.” She had heard all about the mysterious Pinkie sense from Twilight. It was supposedly accurate all the time.
“And you’re thinking I’m under the mind control magic that makes my eyes go all...” She demonstrated with her eyes spinning independently of each other. Cadence nodded, those were symptoms of the spell. “Well, are my eyes going green and all...” Pinkie Pie demonstrated again.
“No.” She hung her head, feeling vulnerable.
“Ladies, we need to be going,” Ancro said, walking into the darkness of one of the shadows. He came back a few moments later with a parasprite clutched in he teeth. “Found a tunnel, c’mon, we need to go! Every changeling in the prison is looking for you, so your best bet is to keep moving. Pinkie, you bring up the rear.”
“Okeydokey,” Pinkie Pie said.
“Cadence, you’re going to be in the middle, providing light.”
“Al-Alright.” She said, still not trusting, but knowing that she couldn’t stay put either. 
“That means I have point,” Ancro said, hating every second of being in charge. He was more the reckless, personal endangerment type than the one to take charge.

Twilight heard it first. A cheery whistling tune, coming from one of the tunnels. The lavender mare told her captive to stop just outside of it, and they waited as the tune got closer and closer. Two ponies were whistling. She relaxed a bit, thinking it may be a guard or somepony who got lost and didn't know what was going on. The lavander unicorn relaxed slightly letting her guard down. She was utterly infuriated when a changeling emerged from tunnel instead of a pony.
Ancro was immediately blindsided by a blast of magical energy. He attributed the surprise to one, his eye being swollen up, and two, blocking out the magical feedback coming from an alicorn. Regardless, he went rolling down the hall as he started to steady himself for the next barrage from…Twilight Sparkle. A very angry Twilight Sparkle, whose mane looked like it was about to burst into flames. He doubted if he was up to fight a guard in a fair fight, much less the element of magic herself. Then, as Cadence walked out of the tunnel, he realized that he wouldn’t have to.
“Twilight, wait!” Pinkie Pie shouted. Not the pony he was hoping to intervene, but it worked and bought him some time to get his guard up. This stalled the unicorn assault, and bought Ancro time to duck in closer, in case she decided to fire again. That way, he may be able to get a shot off on her horn and maybe overtake her. "Don't hurt Ancro."
“What are you doing, Pinkie Pie, he’s dangerous!” She shouted as she tried to get a clear shot at the changeling, her magic had recharged enough to enable her to fire a few shots. “Wait, if that's Ancro then who are you?”
"Shift." He whimpered remembering the stories about the changeling's hit by the party cannon. 
Pinkie Pie waved at the changeling, "Hi Shift I'm Pinkie Pie," then she turned to Twilight and shook her head, "Ancro didn't do that mind control stuff on Scott or Stigandr, my new Pinkie Sense is still going off around him." The pony raised her hoof to demonstrate.
“So, a unicorn and griffin decide to break into prison and rescue a changeling?” Twilight scoffed. “That sounds more like a bad joke, than anything else.”
“No, if it was a joke they would’ve walked into a bar.” Ancro interrupted, smiling, hiding the fact that his barriers were being overwhelmed from a combination of Pinkie Pie, Cadence, and now Twilight Sparkle. He had managed to creep within a few feet, striking distance of Twilight Sparkle. All he would have to do if she got violent, was hit her in the horn.
“Twilight,” Cadence said, emerging from the tunnel. “Please, we mustn’t hurt him.”
“But Cadence, h-“
“We’ll take him to Shining Armor,” she said in an authoritative tone then looked to Ancro, “he will then take you to the princesses and they will decide your fate.”Ancro had completely forgotten Cadence was a princess. Not just some spoiled pony, with a title and a land grant. She was an alicorn, a demigod, if a young one, in her own right. She had the royal air around her, it had fooled most of them into thinking she was in control. Well, half of them. Shift and Ancro could see the cracks in the hastily put-together royal façade. Ancro and Shift were put into the middle with Cadence, and Twilight behind, and Pinkie Pie bouncing on point.
“Dude, what happened to your face?” Shift asked, directly into Ancro’s ear. “Bet you went hoof to hoof with the praetorians and won. I mean seriously, you took on thirty royal guards. I bet you could handle at least one of them. I’m Shift, by the way.”
“Do you mind not talking directly into my ear?” Ancro said. It was personal pet peeve of his, he didn’t tolerate it from his siblings, he wasn’t going to tolerate it from some changeling.
“Oops, sorry,” he said, with a sarcastic apology. Ancro merely rolled his eyes and began looking for way out of this. He had a feeling Shiny may not be in a good mood, and Ancro would like to be in one piece when brought before Celestia. First thing he would have to do, though, was incapacitate Twilight and Cadence. Then, he had to do the impossible… Get away from Pinkie Pie. He saw a laundry chute, and took a deep breath. His conscience was going to kill him.
With one hind leg, he kicked a rock back, and with the other still firmly planted, he spun on it and ducked low. The rock had served as a decent distraction while he closed, to take care of the immediate threat: Twilight. While Cadence had more power, she was obviously a bundle of nerves and would hopefully worry about her sister-in-law instead of him. The lavender mare didn’t see it coming as Ancro brought his left hoof around and hit her in the horn, stunning her and preventing whatever spell she was cooking up from firing. The leg he used was numb up to the knee, though. He swiftly turned to Cadence, who was predictably slightly taken aback by the sudden attack. Granted, not as much as Ancro was hoping, but it was still enough to take her by surprise and stop the spell she was cooking up from discharging. Before the party cannon could be brought to bear on him, he grabbed Shift and leapt down the laundry chute.
“Collapse the tunnel!” Ancro shouted to the much confused Shift. He blinked into realization of what just happened, and did as Ancro had told him. Firing a blast straight upwards, causing a miniature cave-in, they continued to slide down the metal chute.

The commander waited patiently in the laundry room as news spread that the riot was getting under control, and that they were closing in on the changelings. He knew better than that, a praetorian is dangerous, you corner them and you have a blood bath on your hands. That being said, he was starting lose patience. They were supposed to be back by now. Then they would blast into the sewer pipe that ran directly beneath the laundry room and make their escape. So far he had no news or even a report from his underlings, and was considering if he was going to need to make them draw lots, or if he would do it himself.
There was a thump as something fell from one of the chutes and into the dirty linens behind him. He felt that they were changelings, but not his changelings. He was unaware of deserter presence in Canterlot. He would be sure not to kill them until it was necessary, but torture, on the other hoof...
“Dude, Ancro. That was amazing.” Shift shouted, rolling out of the linens. “I mean, you took down both Twilight Sparkle and Cadence.”
“I took out two ponies with no combat training,” Ancro replied, feeling genuinely unimpressed about hitting the element of magic, his con. “Ultimately, what happened was, I got lucky.”
“So did you get lucky when you fought those guards AND Shining Armor?” He laughed.
“A bit, and I pushed a bookshelf on most of them.” Ancro replied, struggling to get up. He was beginning to feel the all too familiar feeling of a spiked vice around his temples, “Caused a domino effect and made the terrain to a bit more of my favor.”
“Impressive,” said the layered voice of another changeling. Shift instinctively coward back from it. Ancro’s reaction was one of exasperation and anger. “I didn’t expect such humility from you.”
“Well, I’m a fairly humble individual,” Ancro said, standing up and eyeing around the room. “May I help you?”
“Yes,” The changeling said, emerging from behind one of the laundry basket wagon things and transforming from an elderly stallion with a folded shirt cutie mark, into a changeling with a scar down the left side of his face. “I’d appreciate it if you would move out of the way, I haven’t fired a blast in ages and I’m afraid I’ll be a bit rusty and miss the deserter.”Ancro did as he was told, much to the shocked look made by Shift. In his defense he was really feeling guilty about this. The scarred changeling nodded in appreciation and turned to blast Shift. His horn charged, and Ancro fired a shot directly into the scarred changeling’s head. It managed to knock his aim off a bit, and saved Shift by mere inches. The smoke cleared, and the scarred changeling turned to Ancro, not the least bit amused.
Ancro had falsely hoped that it would’ve generated some sort of feedback in the changeling, or at least incapacitated him for a moment. But no, he treats it like a minor nuisance. The changeling turned to face him and popped his neck, green fire formed around his hooves, and hands formed where the hooves had been.  Ancro gulped, as he realized just how deep of a hole he had dug himself.

Scott and Stigandr had not planned on being captured so easily. To their credit, they put up a fight, or at least tried to before being incapacitated, wrapped in cocoons and being hauled back to god knows where. Scott had to pass san check after san check to keep grips of what had happened. They were attacked in the furnace room. Luckily, the changeling from the cafeteria had recognized them and requested that they be taken alive. How kind of him. They were quickly beaten. Had no idea where Specs went. Now they were being taken back as prisoners. In sticky green cocoons from gunk that came out of their horns. Stigandr was satisfied when he discovered the source of this material, but still fairly pissed off that he was captured.

“Commander,” Una said, when the scarred changeling’s hoof-turned-fist was practically touching Ancro’s face. Ancro was petrified, the changeling had started ten feet away at least, and had closed the distance in the time it took to blink. Was he fighting Bruce Lee? Ancro looked to where Una’s voice had come from, and he saw that she was carrying two cocoons containing the struggling Stigandr and the freaking-out Scott. Ancro took a deep breath, glad to see them. He waved to get their attention. Scott proceeded to scream but the cocoon was sound proof, even against his voice. Ancro needed to learn how to make that stuff. Stigandr struggled, but to no avail.
“You know,” the voice of Discord whispered in Ancro’s ear, “These odds seem pretty unfair.”
“What’s the deal,” he whispered in reply, just wanting to cut to the chase.
“Well, an infinitesimally small percentage of my powers are freed up, and I may be willing to use it to help you.” Discord said, Ancro could see him smiling and tapping his fingers together like a classic villain. “It won’t win, but it will turn the odds into a more even match.”
“How much more even?” Ancro asked, then he decided to tack on, “Why are you helping me?”
“Three to one,” Discord replied. “His favor and no real reason, entertainment mainly.”
Ancro paused for a moment. “How do they stand now?”
“Trust me kid,” Discord replied with a chuckle, “you really don’t want to know.”
“When does this deal expire?” 
“Fairly soon.”

“What is the meaning of taking these two?” The commander asked hiding the impatience in his voice.
“Sir,” Una replied, “they apparently aided the objective of their own accord.” She eyed the changeling who had prevented her from killing them outright, “No leverage or magic, Chrysalis may want them as well.”
Scott and Stigandr struggled desperately to break out of the cocoon. Suddenly, rocks started falling from the entrance to the laundry room. The praetorians went back, and two cocoons went forward, and managed to hit one of the crystals along the walls just right to cut open the cocoon. It was altogether a one in a million shot that it all happened just perfectly like this. Scott and Stigandr rolled out of the cocoons, and found themselves lying before a very upset changeling with a nasty scar down the side of his face. Quickly, they got to their feet.
“You are going to want to stay down,” the changeling said through clenched teeth. “It will be a lot less painful.” A green fire spun around him, and he transformed into one of the things Scott and Stigandr had fought earlier. There were a few things different about this praetorian though. The shell growing around him, instead of layered chitin, it resembled solid plate armor, and a lot more of it. The armor continued to grow, until it covered the vast majority of the changeling’s body unlike the last ones there was no apparent weakness. Small spikes decorated the armor along the back, shoulders, and haunches, with an additional spike behind each leg. Its rear legs resembled raptors, including the massive toe claw. A five fingered claw that looked like metal was on the end of each hand. The creature arched its back, and let loose a wild howl that shook the cave. “I need to vent some rage,” it said in a deep, relaxed, casual voice that you would expect to hear from an executioner. “So, you’ll have to forgive me for every broken bone I cause. And the quadriplegia that comes when I typically spar with this form. No need to worry, though, most of you will survive.” They could tell that underneath the changeling’s protective mask he was smiling.

Discord sat in a crystal with a bucket of popcorn, and watched, hoping that they would last long enough to at least make this fight entertaining. The power released from the prison break was so woefully insignificant to the amount he needed to release himself. He would need to find another source of chaos if those three proved not as useful as he had hoped, or if they die. He turned his mismatched eyes towards Cadence as he gazed through another crystal. She was stressed, frightened, and feeling useless, so much similar to a certain princess he observed one thousand years ago. First though he would need some help to push her over the edge. He looked at Shining Armor as he rushed down the halls a wicked grin formed on his face as the malevolent plan began to form inside his head. Finally he turned to gaze at Specs as she frantically tried to make it out of the prison.
“Oh little changeling,” Discord said to himself, “It won’t be that easy, not with your brother in danger.”

(Thanks for reading feedback is always appreciated so I can know how I did. Big thanks to my editor/artist Sara for making this story readable and helping with my atrocious grammar. A big thanks to my friends who inspired two thirds of the main characters of the Triumvirate and have had the courtesy not to complain about me writing about them in such a way. Expect about two weeks on the next chapter. Hopefully I’ll get it done sooner but the way these past few weeks have been going I wouldn’t count on it. Be sure to Fav if you like and let me know how I can improve the story so it’s a better read!)

> Showdown in a laundry room
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 14

Specs finally made it outside the prison, after she found a cart carrying out several wounded guards. She faked an injury and hopped aboard, hoping that her brother had made it out too. Her hopes of an easy escape were shattered when she saw what was waiting outside the prison. To Specs it looked like the entire hammer of Celestia was coming down upon the prison. After what typically happens when the praetorians show, Specs would’ve expected some action. This, however, was much more than she was expecting. The sheer numbers of the guards was mind-boggling, but there were enough to easily fill the prison’s external courtyard, and even more were filing in. The numbers weren’t what was worrying her. It was the level of security that was being put into ponies going in and out. Multiple checkpoints had been set up, with pegasi patrolling both inside and outside the shield. There was no way out.
She became very worried for her brother’s safety.
“And you have every right to be,” a voice from nowhere spoke directly into her head; she almost jumped upon hearing, before she remembered her training. “He’s gotten himself into quite the predicament.” There were several seconds in which she thought the voice had gone away. “Aw clever, you’re not going to answer a voice that you hear in your head. Well then, let me show you something you may find interesting.” Her vision faded until she was in the prison laundry room, a changeling praetorian in the center, a griffin and unicorn standing in front of him, and two other changelings. One standing off to his side, she recognized as Ancro, and the other changeling was…
The vision faded back to normal, and she was looking up towards the shield spell that encircled the prison.
“In case you didn’t know, that was the praetorian’s commander.” Shift’s pulse quickened, she had to do something, but nothing came to mind that didn’t compromise her. Given the emotions she was getting from the ponies, they would attack first and ask questions later, if at all. She took a deep breath and casually rolled off the cart, drawing no attention to herself. She picked cool colors for all her facades, just to make them harder to notice.

Ancro was glad to see his friends again. He just wished it was under better circumstances. He jumped to avoid one of the fireballs that changeling was casting. The changeling was another thing that was getting to him. While he was more than glad that he was being courteous and not killing them, the act of playing with them was just degrading.
“So Stigs, how ya been?” Ancro asked almost cheerfully, as he ducked behind cover next to his unicorn friend, feeling a bit of strength flow into him.
“Been bett-whoa!” Ancro suddenly pushed Stigandr to the side as the changeling’s spell tore through their cover.
Scott was trapped in the air. He barely avoided the latest fireballs in an attempt to get to some cover. The fireballs the changeling was firing kept him bracketed to small section of the room. He saw a crystal, and he could’ve sworn he saw something eating popcorn inside it. A blast demolished the crystal, the heat and force scorched his face and left his ears ringing. He was fighting to stay in control as gravity grabbed hold of him.
“Stigs, I’ll keep him happy,” Ancro said, feeling what happened to Scott, and seeing the reflection in his friend’s abnormally large pony eyes. Ancro went for the ceiling, dodging the fireballs that were coming at him with ease. He didn’t have a lot of energy, but he had enough for this. He rapidly dived on the changeling, and a green flame engulfed the air around him. He stared unblinkingly through the flames as the distance closed and he stopped, feeling himself become weightless a foot away from the commander’s face.
“Well, this is awkward,” Ancro said, and barely registered the blur of the back hand knocking him to the far wall. He saw a blurry black figure looking down on him, and he slurred out something along the lines of ‘Ow, that really hurt.’

“Stay down and he may not kill you,” Shift said, pulling Ancro behind the linen basket that he had hid behind. Ancro looked at him with blank eyes, while the words bounced around his head. One of the fun things about a concussion is that you don’t really know what’s going on when it happens. You may keep doing the thing you were doing, and not have a firm grasp of why you should stop. In this case, Ancro was getting up shakily and trying to grasp why his eyes wouldn’t stay focused on the big changeling.

Stigandr just managed to slow Scott’s descent, and pulled him to cover just as another fireball was about to hit him dead on.
“Anyone get the number of that bus?” He said, dazed, as Stigandr jerked him behind an industrial sized washer as their cover was destroyed. Stigandr’s special talent was that he could adapt and overcome to situations and attacks. He’d seen that fireball attack often enough to know how it worked, and maybe even counter it. “Sit tight, Scott. I have a plan.” He gestured towards the ceiling, and the griffin nodded in agreement.
Stigandr popped around the corner and blasted him with some of his magic. The pressure wave did nothing to the changeling, it only presented himself as a target. Both horns lit up and a fireball went flying towards the unicorn. 
The fireball raced towards him, and his horn lit up. With too much effort, he deflected it towards a dryer on beside him. The changeling commander saw this, and smiled to himself. He hadn’t ever seen a pony deflect his spell before. That may make all the effort for transforming fun. He charged his horns, and instead of a fireball, it shot out a stream of flames. Stigandr’s horn lit up in time to catch the flames and turn them away from him. Stigandr focused with all his willpower to keep the fire directed away from him. The changeling then started stepping forward, like there was no effort behind the spell. With each step the changeling took, Stigandr felt the heat and intensity of the fire skyrocket, and he fought with every ounce of strength to not be pushed back.
“So was this your plan,” the changeling asked as he continued to step forward, “to hold out until I ran dry?”
A stalactite hit the changeling on the back of the head, momentarily breaking his concentration. He looked up and saw the griffin hovering, with at least a dozen of the smaller ones in his arms. Stigandr used his magic and tore the hose off one of the washers, and began dousing the changeling’s head.
Ancro was happily learning that his accelerated healing affected every part of his body, being close to his friends and having a steady supply of love was wonderful. He was already getting ready to head back into the fray. He looked, saw Scott and Stigandr keeping the changeling occupied, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy that they didn’t wait for him to get better.
“Do you want to help out?” Ancro asked, blinking his eyes to focus.
“He’ll kill me.” Ancro rolled his eyes at the changeling’s flawed logic.
“You’re dead if you don’t, and we may beat him if you do,” Ancro said, trying desperately not to slap sense into the changeling. “Personally, going out swinging is the best way to go.”
Ancro felt resolve form inside the changeling. Shift was still scared to death, but he was going to at least help them.
“If you want to help out, go to the dryers and gather up the lint. I have a plan,” Ancro said as the basic idea for a plan formulated into his concussed head.

The water was making it difficult for the changeling to cast the fire spells, but he still had telekinesis and two horns. With one of his horns, he captured the water coming from the hose and used it to trap the unicorn’s head in an ever expanding bubble. With his other horn, he captured the stalactites that were thrown at him and prepared to send them back, with interest. That was his plan until the gnat returned and kicked him upside the head, followed by a blast point blank into his eye. Reflexively, he covered the wound with one of his claws while he grew an armored patch to let it heal. Ancro charged at the opportunity.
With his free claw, he grabbed the pest and slammed the smaller changeling’s head into the ground, keeping it pinned there. However, once again, the momentary lapse in concentration was all it took to lead to another nuisance. The unicorn had decided to hit him with the same tactic. It would’ve worked if he wasn’t able to grow gills. He looked over to the soggy unicorn, who was still gasping for air as the levitated water continued to hold its form. Just as he was about to make the water evaporate, a beak protruded inside the bubble, and the most awfully high-pitched shriek assaulted his ears. This time, he was able to power through the pain, and grabbed the griffin around the neck. With a flash from his horn, the water that engulfed his head turned to steam and the hose wrapped around Stigandr’s neck.
“Ancro,” Scott rasped, “tell me you got a plan.”
“…maybe.” Ancro replied with a whisper, hoping he would live to regret doing something this stupid. He also had major doubts that it would work… He was running on fumes as is, and every attack brought him that much closer to a crippling migraine. As a result, his fireballs were little more than bottle rockets. ‘Hmm…so this is how Jubilee feels?’ He thought, as he lit up his horn.
An explosion went off under the changeling’s claw, forcing him to jerk it back. Ancro had survived, although a good portion of his face was burnt and his ears were ringing. He had caught the changeling completely by surprise, by doing the last thing he was expecting to happen. Ancro began firing blindly in the changeling’s general direction, hoping he didn’t hit his friend.
The commander assessed the changeling as it began to fire wildly at him. He didn’t even bother to dodge, the blasts were so pitiful. Even the one that made him let go was weak. He just hadn’t been expecting anything to be so stupid as to blast his own face off! He rushed the blind changeling, and grabbed him by the side of his head. He applied pressure onto his horn with his newly armored claw. The attack may not have done much, but it was painful enough for him to be careful.
Ancro still kicked, and growled and swore while he struggled under the commander’s claw. Every now and then, he’d feel a spell charge up inside him and the commander would apply more pressure to the horn. As tempted as he was, breaking the horn may be going a step too far. Yes, it would eventually grow back, but his queen had given him specific instructions not to do anything extremely harmful.
The commander turned to look at the unicorn, and was utterly shocked to see him missing from the hose. He had cut his way out with one of the crystals. ‘Resourceful’, the commander thought, as he roamed around looking for the unicorn. He took in a deep breath from the air around him, and then exhaled just as deeply before moving along the scent trail. Apex was more than just muscle and magic; it heightened all his senses. He could taste the unicorn, and feel that he was in control of his emotions, which made pinpointing him a lot harder. Still there was one thing he couldn’t hide, and that was his scent, which went back to the supply closet. He had lost what respect he had for the unicorn. Hiding in the closet is such an infantile thing to do. He felt the surge of magic as he approached the door. ‘What’s he going to do?’ He thought confidently, ‘hit me with a can of Lysol?’ He opened the door, and a new meaning of pain stung the unarmored parts of his face as several gallons of bleach were dumped onto his head. He screamed and released the other two, and Ancro smiled evilly as the smell of bleach reached his nostrils. He grabbed a yellow bottle with his magic, tore it open with his mouth, and felt satisfied at the sour taste. The one-liner could wait, he thought as he doused the acidic contents onto the face of the changeling, and watched as the commander’s pain doubled.
“We may need to take a few steps back,” Ancro warned.
“Why?” Scott asked, as they slowly backed away.
“Mix bleach with a stronger enough acid, and you get something akin to mustard gas,” Ancro said, before face palming. 
“How do you know that?” Scott asked, slightly terrified.
“Chemistry in the…11th grade, I think?” Ancro said, and Scott half expected him to mention a lab experiment he had botched. “It was mentioned in a paragraph in the chapter that talked about acids and bases.”
“Seriously, the school text book told you how to make mustard gas?”
“Yeah, I was oddly the only one who noticed it,” Ancro answered with a shrug, as they turned away from the screaming changeling.
“I’m going to kill you!” The changeling commander roared, as the mask peeled off his face, revealing the awful damage that had been.
“Scatter!” Stigandr shouted, as the changeling charged. It became clear that the fight wasn’t over yet.

“Sir, the changelings have been cornered,” A guard said to Shining Armor.
“Where?” He said, his voice low and in control.
“Outside the laundry room. The ceiling caved in,” He continued, while Shining Armor levitated his helmet onto his head, “They are trying to dig their way through the rock.”
“Signal the guards outside the prison,” Shining Armor ordered with a slow, deliberate, and at the same time, terrifying tone. “Tell them we’re going in.”
“Yes, sir.” The guard saluted before galloping out of the caverns, almost bumping into a light blue stallion as he passed.

Specs was doing as little as she could to draw attention to herself. Something all changelings naturally excel at. The one thought that was on her mind, and that kept her going, was how she hoped her brother wasn’t dead and how hard she was going to beat him if he made it.
A bat’s head looked out of the top of Fluttershy’s mane as a guard slowly and deliberately walked through the ponies that were forming up into their ranks. This one, however, didn’t go to any of the squads. Instead he just walked straight for the prison. The bat pulled on the pink mane to get Fluttershy’s attention.
“What is it, Bruce?” Fluttershy asked, and the bat pointed one wing towards the light blue pony. “Oh him? What about him?”
The bat pointed to his nose then shook his head.
“He doesn’t smell good?” The bat shook his head no. Then he waved his right wing. “Oh! He doesn’t smell right!”
Bruce nodded. Fluttershy felt a bit of confidence; she was finally getting the hang of charades. Angel bunny would be so proud.
“Who doesn’t smell rahght?” Applejack asked, coming up behind and startling Fluttershy. The Pegasus knocked Bruce out of his soft perch in her mane.
“Bruce said something’s off about the guard that just went into the prison.” Fluttershy murmured. “Do you think we should tell Shining Armor?”
“Ah reckon so.” She replied, “Twi’s gone missin’ too, so he would want to know everything.”

Specs felt hostility focused on her as she ran through the halls. She knew this feeling, she was found out. She didn’t know how or whom, but somepony knew and they had told. She needed to find a new disguise fast, and a partner. The ponies were working in pairs and trios; she had already seen them grab the ones who were by themselves and take them back for examination. She needed to find her brother before they found her. She dove behind a corner to avoid a patrol, only to find another walking down the hall.
“Through here.” A shadow on the wall pointed to a laundry chute. She dove headfirst down the chute, really hoping the commander was still tied up with those three idiots.

It was now painfully clear that playtime was over with the commander, and he was now going for keeps. Ancro was learning what it felt like to have bones break, set, and then break again before they could fully heal. Stigandr realized just how much of the changeling’s magic was being held back. Scott was doing what he could, but the changeling wasn’t allowing him to get close. Thanks to the bleach and the other chemicals, it was taking a while for him to actually heal. Which meant he was still blind, deaf, and without smell. Scott started writing this off as a good thing. The griffin forgot that the commander still had AOE attacks.
“How ya holding up, Ancro?”Stigs asked, obviously getting tired.
“Still got one more step in me than you,” Ancro answered, deciding to reply with his usual ‘I’ll one up you’ response, even though he was getting tired himself. This taunt gave Stigandr some semblance of a second wind and he straightened up, refusing to let Ancro one up him.
“We need a plan,” Scott said, landing beside them to catch his breath. “Ancro, do you know of any chinks or holes or weaknesses?”
“Yeah, he has a two meter wide thermal exhaust port. I only learned that was possible maybe an hour ago!” Ancro replied, a little short on patience.
“Well…” Scott said, “Can you do it?”
“Yes Scott, I’ve been hiding my ability to transform into that for our entire time here,” Ancro loved sarcasm. “Don’t worry though, I’ve got a plan, all we have to do is keep him happy for a while longer.”
“…okay” Stigandr spoke up worriedly, “What is your plan?”
“You guys remember that one Farmers insurance commercial with the flamethrower?” He said with a smile, and gestured to Shift, who was busy cleaning out the last of the lint from the dryer filters. The amount the changeling had gathered was enough to fill up one of the linen baskets.
“What we need to do is tie up his magic,” Stigandr said with a nod. Scott face palmed at the Rube Goldberg-like insanity associated with the plan. 
After they had come with something that resembled a plan to keep him occupied. Just before they split up, Scott stopped them. “Guys, before we do this one thing,” he held out one of his eagle-taloned legs in the shape of a fist. “Triumvirate” The others smile and follow suit. Once the knuckle bumping ritual was completed, Scott went in for an awkward impromptu hug. “Now Let’s Do This!” Scott shouted. “Roll Tide!”
“Is it wrong of me to expect him to say War Eagle instead?” Ancro murmured before he zipped off for his role in the plan, deciding not to wait for an answer. The hug was a bit of a boost for him, and gave him the speed he would need to keep up with the commander and play the nuisance. He always loved being the target.
After he had left, Stigandr couldn’t help but chuckle at the situation. Trapped in a laundry room in Equestria, fighting a changeling beast thing that is beating the tar out of them, and their only hope was a plan inspired from a TV commercial. At least he was in good company.

The tunnel collapsed behind Specs, something she hoped wasn’t bad tunneling. “Sorry, no turning back now.” The voice said as she continued downwards. “I’ve quite a bit invested into this.”
“What do you mean?” She asked, feeling crazy for talking to a shadow.
“Oh, you’ll find out.”
She slid down and landed on top a pile of lint. She lifted her head out and saw Ancro, Stigandr, and Scott fighting the praetorian commander and unbelievably holding their own. She blinked to be sure she wasn’t hallucinating. No she wasn’t, those three were holding their own with a praetorian. A pile of lint landed on her head and she looked down and saw her brother going through dryer filters for the stuff like his life depended on it.
“Shift!” Specs leapt from the basket to hug her shocked brother.
“Sp-Specs?” He stuttered as she got off him, and then punched him in the fore leg. “What was that for?”
“What are you doing here, we have to go!”
“I’m sorry,” said the voice that had been following her, and her brother looked around for it. Specs let out a sigh of relief that she wasn’t going crazy by imagining it in the first place. Dust and rocks came from all the laundry chutes “But I have a lot riding on the outcome of this fight. I can’t let you two escape and go and ruin my fun.” 
“You bastard, you tricked me!” Specs shouted accusingly. “You said that you were going to help me!”
“I never said that,” the voice said, as a shadow of…something appeared behind them and the voice chose to originate from there. “I said that your brother was in trouble, and showed you where he was. You merely followed my instructions, and it isn’t my fault if you don’t like the outcome.”
“Who are you?” Shift asked the shadow as it paced along the wall.
“Nopony of any importance,” he replied “Now you two be good and help out in any way they need it, I have some more strings to pull, ta-ta.”
“And if we don’t?” Specs retorted, and the shadow stopped and chuckled.
“Then when the praetorian is healed all the way and those three can’t stall him anymore,” he made the slit throat gesture along his neck, along with the appropriate sound effects. “I’m afraid it’ll be curtains for you.” The shadow completely faded away, laughing the entire time. 
Specs sighed and hung her head in defeat. “What did they have you doing?”

Discord had sealed all but one of the laundry chutes. He kept the one closest to Twilight Sparkle and company opened, hoping they would take the bait and follow down it. He would need Cadence, and Cadence alone if his gamble was to work. Otherwise, he would be stuck with the miniscule dregs those three were able to create, and they would either find a way back home or die trying. Most likely the latter. Still, they knew how to put on a show.
Princess Cadence walked down the tunnel next to Twilight in silence. It wasn’t from her sister-in-law’s or her friend’s lack of effort. She felt powerless, like she was unable to take care of herself.This was twice they had captured her, and this time she was rescued by one. Ancro’s motivation or lack thereof for saving her was driving her insane, was he expecting some kind of snack? Maybe a pardon? Why would he go through the effort though, since he was about to be rescued? All these questions and more bounced around her head. The only answer that made any sense was that he didn’t have any self-interests in it, was only doing it because it was the right thing to do.
She passed by a laundry chute. There were noises coming from it. Barely audible over the parasprites that still fluttered around them, but it sounded like…fighting.
“Cadence, is everything alright?” Twilight asked as she looked down the laundry chute and heard the noises too. “What’s going on down there?”
“A fight.” Cadence said, as she silently measured the laundry chute with her eyes. She could fit, but barely. 
“C’mon, we better hurry and find my brother,” Twilight answered. Cadence just stood there, mesmerized by the laundry chute. “Umm Cadence, are you alright?”
That managed to snap her out of her trance, and she shook her head clear of the thoughts of rushing down the laundry chute. She would have to ask Ancro why he had rescued her, after they had recaptured him.
Discord grumbled as they ran by, his plan failed. Well at least one part had, what kind of god of chaos would he be without a contingency or two? He needed Cadence and would have to rest before he had any power again. So sad that creating cave-ins and minor acts of defying physics were his limits. He would have to wait for his next opportunity to present itself. He decided to watch the rest of the show while he waited, and pulled up a lawn chair. Shining Armor was soon to make a scene, he was assured. After all, his wife was in danger.

“Almost through,” Una said, as one another praetorian reverted to his base form from exhaustion. The Apex form was never supposed to be used for long term. Thirty minutes at the max, it wasn’t natural like a pony or a griffin, and thus far more energy than both. That being said, its pluses were incredible.
“No, you are through,” said a voice from behind. She turned around, hoping she was wrong, and that it wasn’t the voice she thought she heard. A pink wall rushed her faster then she could react. It immobilized her against the rocky wall. Just as quick as she had been hit, she reverted to her normal form. She stared in equal parts shock and horror at the ponies that filled the tunnel.
“Get to work on this tunnel!” Shining armor shouted, and several guards started taking the rocks out immediately after he issued the order. He turned to Una. “I have only one question for you. Where is my wife?”

The commander had taken another shot to the face. Already, he was regretting getting rid of his mask, though a necessity, in order to heal. The chemicals had gotten in, and were destroying his lungs. He needed all the air he could get to heal. His eyes were doing better, blurs with the occasional stinging green flash were always better than blackness. He heard a buzzing noise and took a swipe, feeling minor contact.
Ancro barely made it out that time. The changeling was speeding up, and was healing a lot faster than he liked. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to keep swooping in and taking potshots, and being successful. Ancro came at him from behind this time, and he saw the changeling’s ears twitch just in time to move from the slash. Still, the feeling of the claws touching him at all sent shivers down his spine. Granted, with the ears healing, that made it a bit easier for him to be a target. So, he tried to take it as a blessing in disguise. He knew he was probably going to regret this.
“Hey!” Ancro shouted, and the commander’s scarred head looked in his direction. “I’m curious, now that your whole face is scarred up, will it heal right? I noticed your scar e-“ Ancro darted off as the commander’s wings started buzzing to chase him down.
Scott was waiting nearby with several sheets to tie up his horns. He took several deep breaths. He looked as Ancro flew around the room with the commander in hot pursuit. Scott would only get one shot at this the rate. The changeling was gaining on his friend. Finally, when Ancro had lured the commander close enough, the griffin pounced and wrapped the changelings head and face with the sheets, paying special mind to get the horns. Ancro took this time and grabbed hold of the changeling’s wings and proceeded to fire his horn and the nub where the wings met the body, being careful not to hit his friend.
Scott felt like he was riding a mechanical bull, but one thousand times more terrifying. He counted down the seconds until Stigandr would be in position, then counted them down again. His leg was seared from being too close to Ancro’s attacks, and the spikes on the changeling’s armor made him wish he was riding a real bull instead. Finally, the changeling had a massive drop in altitude as three of its wings were finally torn off. It spun wildly into the ground, landing face first.
“Stigs, now!” Ancro yelled, and the unicorn used his telekinesis to pin the commander down while Ancro doused him with anything flammable he could grab before doing the same. “Scott, grab the lint!” His message was more of urgency than an order, since the griffin was already grabbing the massive roll around basket and dumping it on the changeling.
Ancro, Stigandr, and Scott were all suddenly sent flying back, covered in the sticky green goop that flew out from his horn before Ancro could ignite the mixture. The changeling grew a third horn and charged a spell, and Ancro immediately knew there would be more than enough power to kill them. The commander was just being thorough.
Specs shot a fireball, and it connected with the changeling commander, setting him ablaze. He let out a horrified shriek as the flames burned through his chitin-like armor and started burning away his insides faster than he could heal. Specs and Shift ran over and started getting them out of the gunk.
The caved-in entrance blew open, and in ran Shining Armor and numerous other guard ponies. Taking the laundry room by storm and quickly subduing everypony that wasn’t on fire. The commander had reverted to his base form in a desperate attempt to put out the flames. He saw this, and knew he would rather die by suicide than be taken alive. With one final flash of his horn, he detonated the floor and everyone fell into the rushing sewers below. Even the ones that were able to fly were pulled under by the colossal splash when the rubble hit the water.

(Wow got this done a lot sooner than I expected. Sorry if any of you were expecting some more story telling I couldn’t hold off on the fight scene any longer…didn’t expect it to be that big though. Big thanks to my editor/artist Sara for making sure my grammar is checked and good. Big thanks to my friends who inspired the other two members of the Triumvirate. Thanks for reading feedback is always appreciated and desired along with other ways I can make this a better story. Also my prayers go out to those who lost so much during hurricane Sandy and if it’s within your budget donate to reputable charity. Thanks for reading.)

> Crystal balls, shadows, and sewers.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 15

Ancro held onto both his friends for dear life as they tried desperately to steer through the pitch-black water. They fought to the surface, and struggled to stay there as they were whisked through the sewers. When the floor fell out, Ancro had grabbed hold of Stigandr. Then the splash came, and Ancro grew some fingers and grabbed the griffin so they wouldn’t get separated.
At first Ancro considered this akin to a Disney ride, minus the safety features, so he just closed his eyes and held on tight. Stigandr tried desperately to steer through the water, but upon realizing the futility of fighting the current, just consigned to providing light. Scott just screamed and swore, and tried to break Ancro’s grip. The guards that fell in did their best to relax, and let the flotation magic in their armor take control. Still, rushing blindly through tunnels of water was more than a bit unnerving. Shift and Specs dove and grew gills, but still found the current nearly impossible to fight.
“Left or right?” Ancro yelled, over the roaring water.
“Left!” Scott yelled.
“Nope!” Stigandr replied, kicking off the wall before Scott could argue, and sent them down the tunnel to the right.
The tunnel was smaller, and had a much faster current. This brought about new bouts of screaming from all three of them as they started to tumble and spin through the water, occasionally catching a glimpse from the light of Stigandr’s flickering horn. Then he hit it on something, and it went out. Now they were in complete darkness. Suddenly, they came out and breathed. Soon after. they became aware that they were falling. Still gasping for air, they fruitlessly flapped their wings. Ancro’s were no good because they were wet, and Scott couldn’t lift both of them, only managing to slow the fall down.
They landed in calmer water, and took a few deep breaths. Though the sound of rushing water was still near, there wasn’t a whole lot they could do about it. Then they started moving again, Stigandr lit up his horn and it revealed that they were in large chamber with multiple pipes like the one they were in, emptying into it. That wasn’t what caught their attention though, what got their attention was the large whirlpool in the middle of the room. The one they were heading towards. The three friends screamed.

Princess Luna stood in dark blue armor, and was flanked by her bat-winged pegasi. She examined the sizable hole that was the laundry room’s floor. She secretly knew that she would have to reprimand Shining Armor. He rushed blindly into what was obviously a trap. Now, not only was his life in danger, but also twenty guards. According to a report by Twilight Sparkle, several changelings and Ancro’s friends. Much to her disbelief, they were not under a control spell. She took a deep breath before giving her orders to the guards.
“Examine everypony who has been inside the prison, and see if they are changelings,” she said begrudgingly. The changelings had forced not only her, but the whole of Equestria to be more cautious with how they treated ponies. The stigma particularly went towards ponies that had just arrived, however some friendships had been ruined by the paranoia, when somepony had taken up a new hobby. Also, this would easily tie up a third of the guards, doing something that she already knew was unnecessary. However, with changelings, she also knew she couldn’t be sure. “Have all the guards that are cleared for duty take up posts at all the exit pipes. Anything that is alive, bring them to the prison for examination. We don’t care if it is Captain Shining Armor or any other guard stallions, they are to be thoroughly examined and handled with extreme caution.” She stopped short of imprisoning them in irons and put to the rack. She had to remember that these were different times.
After the guards had left and she was alone with only her two pegasi, she descended into the water. The rushing water parted around her as she flew through the tunnels, with her guards struggling to keep pace. She was the only one who knew their origins, but suffice it to say, she liked the mystery that surrounded her so-called ‘lunar stallions’. She made it a point to keep up with all the rumors bouncing around, and had to smile as she thought of some of them. She got a particular good laugh out of one of the rumors that they were, in fact, merely foals disguised in a suit of magic armor with no real responsibilities. Celestia had been struck by the curiosity as well, and had sought to find their origins. It had become a game she played with her big sister, one she was winning.
The demigoddess shook her head clear of the thoughts and focused on the task at hoof: Finding the guards and Shining Armor, then the changelings and his friends.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but Princess Luna believes it is necessary,” the guard pony said, as he finished waving his horn over Cadence.
“It’s okay, I understand,” she replied in a voice that was tired, both physically and emotionally. “How are Hoplon and Firecracker?” She looked over and saw her two personal guards being examined by doctors.
“They’ll be fine,” He replied, “Just going to be put up for a few days.”
“Thank you,” She replied.
“Just doing my job ma’am,” The guard responded.

Twilight was together with her friends again, and after they were examined, walked out of the prison. They immediately basked in the blinding light that was princess Celestia.
“Princess!” Twilight exclaimed, rushing towards her mentor and greeted her with a hug. “Where were you, why didn’t you answer any of my letters?”
“I was away on business in Fillydelphia. I didn’t get any letters. It wasn’t until the messenger from the palace came, that I became aware of the situation and rushed back.” She smiled. “I’m glad to see you were able to help your brother.”
“Not as much as I would have liked,” she said, a mixture of anger and sadness in her voice. 
“Don’t worry, Twilight,” Celestia said, looking into her student’s eyes. “As we speak, weather control ponies are clearing up the skies and search teams are being organized to search the sewers for your brother and the changelings.”
“Princess Celestia,” Twilight said. She had the hint of doubt in her voice that would typically overtake her when she was about to tell the princess something she may have thought she overlooked. “I-I think that there may have been ponies inside the palace working for the changelings, and I’d like to stay in Canterlot until we discover them.”
“What makes you think that, Twilight?”
“How many ponies could have known that you and Shining Armor were going to be gone?” She asked, then decided to add, “And besides that, they knew Cadence was going to be in the prison as well at the exact time.”
“You are right to worry, my faithful student.” The alicorn replied with a sigh, “It is a problem that I’ve been worried about for a while.”
“I can help.” Twilight replied, almost as fast as Celestia could answer the question.
“I admire your enthusiasm, but it-“ She cut herself off when she saw the rest of her friends getting ready to step up and say they’d help save Equestria. Something they had already done multiple times. “Very well, but be careful. We’ve already learned that the changelings have different powers than they showed during the invasion. We don’t know what else they can do.”
“Don’t worry princess, we’ll be careful,” she replied.
“After that beatin’ we dealt ‘em, they’d haftah think twihce ‘fore they mess with any of us,” Applejack responded.
“I’m going to make a larger bore to my party cannon!” Pinkie proclaimed.
“It would be dreadful for any of those things to come across me in a dark alley,” Rarity said.
“I’ll tear ‘em limb from limb!” Rainbow Dash said, “What the hay gives them the right to do this?”
“I’ll try and help too. I-if you don’t mind, that is...”

Shining Armor washed up along the side of one of the wider tunnels, where the current wasn’t as strong. After coughing up water, he lit up his horn, looking for any other of the guards and any of the changelings. Last he checked there were three, plus the unicorn and griffin that were under the spell. Unless there were any of them hiding in the sewers, and… Given how his day was going, he had a feeling he would stumble across their entire army. Granted, that still wouldn’t stop him from saving his sister or his wife.
With some effort, he stood up and looked around, using his horn to light the tunnel. He found that he was alone as far as his light would extend. With no signs of the changelings or any of his guards, out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow move up the wall. He called out to it. It stopped momentarily, before it disappeared around a corner, heading upstream. Shining Armor cautiously followed.

Shift and Specs were latched to the side of a wall, after nearly getting sucked in the whirlpool that had just sucked up Ancro and his friends. They kept getting more and more baffled by his behavior, he didn’t do the things that a changeling normally would do. He seemed to fight when running was a better option, he wouldn’t do the basic transformations like growing gills, so he wouldn’t drown or hold onto the walls. He was clinging to his friends for dear life.
“Specs,” Shift said, looking at the pipe they had gone out of, “I don’t think I can manage swimming back through that.”
“I know, neither could I.” She smiled to her brother, “Even if we hadn’t been running from praetorians, we wouldn’t have had the strength.”
“So what’s the plan, sis?”
“I don’t really know,” She shrugged. “Right now, following them seems to be the best way to go.” A pair of gills grew along the side of her neck, and she tucked her wings as close as they could get to her body. She dived into the whirlpool, with her brother nervously following behind her.

They broke the surface after being underwater, for god knows how long. Stigandr struggled to light his horn, gasping for air as Ancro loosened his grip and they started to drift apart. It was at this time, Scott and Stigandr realized that their heavy metal armor wasn’t sinking them and was, in fact, floating with them like a life jacket.
“Lucky bastards,” Ancro said, between waves washing over and against his head as he struggled towards the ledge that he had to assume was used by maintenance ponies. 
“Do you want a lift?” Stigandr asked, swimming next to him.
“No, I’m good,” Ancro said, struggling along. Swimming is hell when you have holes in your legs and several broken ribs. ‘Weren’t those supposed to heal?’ He kept thinking as the weight of his body started to drag him down.
“Dude, we just went through all that effort to save you,” Scott said, extending a wing out to his friend. “I’m going to be real pissed if you end up drowning.”
“Fine,” He said weakly, grabbing hold of the wing with his forelegs after trying unsuccessfully to grow fingers. “I was about to cave anyways.”
After a few minutes of paddling, they reached the edge of what looked like a maintenance area. There was a nice dry area with a sloping ledge that had a door for easy access. From the rust that was on the hinges, it looked like there wasn’t much maintenance done down here. They decided to take a quick breather. No one said anything for the longest time, until Scott spoke up.
“I thought Equestria was supposed to be a happy place, with a lack of horrible shape-shifting monsters and near drowning experiences,” the griffin said, lying down with only the upper half of his body out of the water.
“Yet, here we are,” Ancro finished. 
“Yeah Scott, if you watched the show, you may have had an idea of what might have been going to happen,” Stigandr teased.
“I didn’t know I was going to have a migraine from hell if I didn’t have any love to feed off of,” Ancro said, then continued with a chuckle. “I also didn’t know I’d experience physical exhaustion, along with a redefined emotional exhaustion.”
“Magical exhaustion does suck.” Stigandr added something Ancro nodded to in agreement.
“I’m just ti-“ Scott continued talking as the words tumbled mutely out of his mouth.
The trio shot up and immediately looked around. Scott immediately got to work on the door while Stigandr and Ancro took up positions to cover him if they were attacked. Ancro fumed that his choice feeding time of sitting around a joking had been interrupted by some eavesdroppers. The changeling was even more irritated that they wouldn’t show themselves and release some of the tension. The stress added a sour taste to everything.
Stigandr lit what little of the area he could with his magic. It revealed nothing, the unicorn’s eyes shifted cautiously for any signs of movement. This only made him double his efforts. He looked for any reflection or out of place ripples while the griffin swore under his breath.

Shift and Specs were safe from the light while they treaded just below the water’s surface. They had masked their presence nearly perfectly. The brother and sister glanced to each other cautiously as they slowly backed away from the edge. She didn’t know if those three had any other talents that they could be hiding. She just saw that all of a sudden, they had been talking, and when she listened in they had stopped and began looking around.
“Scott, move aside.” She heard Ancro say. He may have been struggling to hide it but he was running on empty. Any love he had been getting was healing his body and he was making it worse by his continued moving. Didn’t he know that rule number one of any injury you stop moving until it’s healed? Even with the love flowing in from his friends it would take a half hour for him to heal back to a position he should move in. She heard the sound of hooves on wood followed by a groan. ‘Best make it an hour.’ She thought having been convinced that this changeling was utterly stupid.
“We need to go before whoever is out there decides to do something besides listen,” Stigandr said, and she heard him walk up to his panting friend. The door clicked and she felt a tiny bit of resentment form in Ancro. It was gone as soon as the changeling made a comment about him being the ‘master of unlocking.’

Princess Cadence was walking back to the palace to wait for Shining Armor’s return. Luna had assured she would find him, and he had every confidence in her.
Discord saw this, and glanced around until he found the only other pony on the street. A blue mare with a silver mane, who herself was full of self-doubt. She had a star cape, and one of those pointy wizard hats that reminded him of some pony he had hated so long ago. Except his was a lot more authentic, not some cardboard creation.

Trixie was packing up her show. She had finally started to get back on her hooves and draw crowds once again. Not nearly the size of which she was used to, but enough to make the down payment for a new wagon.  This was going to let her make her way back to the top, as long as she avoided Ponyville and Twilight Sparkle.
She had finished packing up and was heading back to her apartment with more money than she would’ve had if she had not gone out today. It turns out that there was a big commotion out at the prison. She didn’t know what it was about, but regardless, lots of ponies had come out in the rain. She had provided them with entertainment and farfetched stories, albeit with more grounding in fact.
“Excuse me,” a tired voice said from behind her. Trixie turned around after putting on her smile.
“I’m sorry, but The Great and Powerful Trixie is-“ She stopped mid-sentence, when she realized she was talking to Princess Cadence. “I’m so sorry your highness, however can I help you?” She was nearly groveling. Not because she could’ve offended royalty, but because she realized that the pony standing in front of her could take her to the top if she played her cards right.
“You dropped this,” Princess Cadence said, magicking the crystal ball.
“I’m sorry, but that couldn’t possibly be Trixie’s,” The blue mare said, opening her bags to be certain. It was gone, “Trixie was sure she had put her crystal ball away,” she said, grabbing her ball with her magic and cleaning the mud off it. She checked the bottom to be certain it was hers. It was, it had her initials on the bottom of it.
“It’s alright, we all make mistakes,” Cadence said.
‘Yeah, but you have the bits to replace yours.’ Trixie almost said, before catching herself. “Thank you; Trixie has no idea what she would’ve done without this. If there’s any way Trixie can repay you…”
“I’m alright,” she said, before continuing her walk back to the palace. Trixie could tell she wasn’t. Hell, a small foal could tell she wasn’t alright. Trixie needed this sale.
“Trixie knows!” The mare said, pulling out the blanket and cushions from her bag. “The Great and Powerful Trixie will tell you your future.”
“I don’t want to be a bother,” she said again, although with more doubt in her voice.
“I am The Great and Powerful Trixie,” she scoffed. “It is no trouble at all, Trixie’s family has a long history of serving the royal family. It would be an honor!”
“If you are sure it’s not too much trouble,” she said, as she sat down on the cushion. 
“There are very few things that are trouble for The Great and Powerful Trixie,” she replied, lighting up her horn and waving her forehooves over the crystal ball. “Tell Trixie what you want to know, what troubles the mind of one of Equestria’s princesses?”
“I’m worried about Shining Armor,” Cadence said. “He was in the prison when the changelings attacked.”
Trixie hid the delight in her voice, to hear the confirmation that there was a changeling attack, and not the rumors and hearsay. This was already turning profitable.
“That was all Trixie needed to know,” she said in an ominous voice. “Now crystal ball, show Trixie the future of the stallion known as Shining Armor!”
The crystal ball showed an image, but not the one she wanted it to show. She wanted to show the image of those two ponies back together again; something vague but something that Cadence could make happen and Trixie was confident would happen. That was all there was to fortune telling, the teller shoots an arrow and it hits the bull’s-eye the pony paints for it.
The image that was appearing on the crystal ball was one that was terrifyingly specific. It showed Shining Armor captured by changelings. He was struggling as they mocked him and beat him. Taking turns, appearing as ponies he loved, each one hurting him more severely than the last. Until Chrysalis herself appeared and changed into Cadence, there was a flash from her horn and the crystal ball shattered into a million pieces. Trixie turned to apologize to the princess for showing such disturbing images, but Cadence was already gone.

(Thanks for reading! Sorry for the lack of action (to those who were expecting more) but this was a cool down after the last chapter, which a good 75% of was fight scene. Anyways big thanks to my editor/artist Sara for making this readable (for commissions check the title). Thanks to my friends for being okay with being included in the story. If any of you saw my post you’re probably aware that I’m going to be staying with my grandparents for a bit and not sure how much time I’ll have to type, factor in I’m also working on a few stories for some contests (Words cannot express the amount of irritation I feel when writing a short story; it’s a true pain for me). Let me know how I did I do enjoy feedback comment or message me on how I can make this a better story. I thoroughly enjoyed the season premiere it went further into the magic as well as the limitations of it. Also good to know I didn’t step on any canon. Also belated veterans day to any and all vets we appreciate your service.)

> Captured again
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 16

“What do you mean, this isn’t a dream?!” Scott yelled, directly into his friend’s ear. The griffin was still baffled as to how one of his best friends of eight years had been turned into a weird looking bug-horse thing. He refused to say ‘pony’.
“Scott,” Ancro said, putting one of his holed hooves over his ear…thing, “All the evidence adds up to us being in Equestria.”
“Or, a dream,” Scott countered.
“Scott, we covered that last night.” Ancro replied, “You remember that note?”
“Yes, and I remember you can’t read in dreams, but maybe that was what I remember from a dream, and I can read in dreams,” Scott said, before going into some long, drawn out and pointless explanation about how it was impossible to be in the world from a little girls’ show. Ancro just laid back and watched the scenery, while waiting patiently for Stigandr to get back. Occasionally, he’d duck into the taller grass, if a pegasus got too close for comfort, but aside from that he was content to relax and nearly fall asleep.
“So, what was that you were talking about? If we meet some of the ponies from the show?” Scott said, after finishing his explanation and coming to some realization, that yes, he was trapped in Equestria. “Something about wibbly-wobbly, timey wimey stuff?”
Ancro groaned, he didn’t want to have to explain this again. “In theory, several things may happen if we meet up with them… Our outsider knowledge of their universe could cause it to collapse in upon itself,” he replied, “we could rip open a fabric in the reality of this universe, we could detonate like anti-matter. Or we could uncreate this entire reality, and all the beings within it. Including us.”
Scott stared at his friend. Ancro stared back with warning glance. Scott scoffed, like he was so anti-brony that he would try to unmake a universe. Okay, so maybe the thought would cross his mind. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind, in favor of ones he may get a bit more of an explanation of. “How do you know this stuff?”
“I have a doctorate in quantum physics, Scott,” the changeling replied, proudly.
“Ancro…that doctorate is from eBay.” 
“Still, I get to put ‘Doctor’ on my business cards.” 
“You don’t have business cards...”
“…Well, drat,” Ancro replied, in the freaky, layered voice that just creeped Scott out. “I guess I’m going to have to go get some business cards when we get back.”
“You would get business cards with ‘Doctor’ on them, because you bought a degree on eBay?” Scott replied, in mild annoyance. His friend’s behavior wasn’t what was bothering him…Okay, it was, but what was bothering him was that his two best friends were just so damn chill about the whole situation. He also wished he could address them in their real names, which would make him so happy. He opened his beak and tried once again, just to be sure. Nope, nothing.
Ancro had dozed off to sleep. Scott was pinching himself, trying desperately to wake himself up. “Scott, you’re anxious,” Ancro said, sounding like he was half asleep. “Go spread your wings and fly.”
Scott looked at his wings. He knew they were too small for true sustained flight, but still, he had always wanted to fly. Even as a kid he wanted to be a fighter pilot. Then the Marines had to go and tell him he had low light red-yellow colorblindness. What the hell was that about? Yeah, that was two years ago, but Scott knew how to hold a grudge like no one else. Grumbling slightly, he spread his wings and flapped them. Immediately, he felt himself lifted off the ground.
Shocked, he stopped flapping and looked back at his wings. He flapped them again, and soon found himself to be flying. Unsteadily, but still, he was flying. To him it felt similar like the first time on a bicycle, except if he fell, he would land on the ground ten feet beneath him. He kept flying fairly low to the ground, until he gathered the courage to go upwards. Closing his eyes, he flew straight upwards. He felt his head hit a…pillow, he was touching a cloud. What amounted to icy water vapor was hindering his flight, like it was a solid object. The griffin understandably screamed.
Unfortunately, having a freak out in the middle of the sky is a fairly bad idea. Scott quickly lost control, and started tumbling downwards. He had forgotten how high he had gone up, was able to get a good look as the ground rushed forward to meet him. His body started to feel lighter, and his falling decreased slightly, he assumed it had something to do with the aura around his body.
“Scott, flap!” Ancro yelled, and the griffin barely managed to regain control in time to land safely.
“What was that about?” Ancro asked, as his friend tried to regain his composure. He was sweating profusely, but looked relieved to see his friend not dead.
“I touched a cloud!” He shouted, “It wasn’t a cloud, it was like a cold pillow or cotton or something like that! What the hell kind of world is that? It doesn’t make sense!”
“Yeah it does,” Ancro said with a chuckle.
“Okay, how explain to me the physics of how I can touch a bunch of water vapor!”
“Magic?” Ancro replied.
“Is that going to be how you explain everything while we’re here?!” Scott shouted, looking at the clouds.
“Why yes, yes it is.” 
“Any other physics defying things I should be warned about?” He asked, still trying to shake off the whole touching clouds thing.
“None that come to mind,” the changeling answered, before lying back down. He looked back at the griffin and teased, “Probably going to have to make San checks while you’re here, aren’t you, Scott?” 
“Ancro,” Scott started, the changeling raised an eyebrow. “Shut up.”

Scott woke up in a bed, in a white room. He tried to stand up, but his legs and wings were strapped down. His entire body was sore as well. He looked around, and curtains were on both sides of him, with hospital equipment beeping silently in the background.
“Great, another hospital,” he groaned.
“Well, we could still be in the sewers,” Stigandr replied from behind the curtain on his left. “Granted, we may have been able to avoid capture, but still.”
“Stigs, where are we?”
“In the Canterlot palace, we got captured after Shining Armor jumped us.” He took a deep breath, and wondered if he should let Scott know. “You were taken out of the fight pretty quick, a paralysis spell. What’s the last thing you remember?”
“Well, you were getting tired of being followed…

“Wait for my signal,” Stigandr whispered, as he ducked down a maintenance tunnel while Scott and Ancro continued on. While Ancro wasn’t minding being followed, as long as they stayed at a good distance, the other two started to get irritated.
“What’s the signal?” Scott asked, as he looked back at Ancro who was trailing a bit further back than he had been before. He was the only one who could sense them.
“Most likely going to be the sounds of a struggle,” Ancro said in Stigandr’s voice.
“Your voice doesn’t sound right,” Scott replied.
“Yeah, it’s the tone,” Ancro replied in his layered changeling voice, “I’m lazy, so I’m not going to put forth the effort into making the voice accurate.”
“But won’t that blow the cover?”
“Not really, no,” Ancro replied in the typical, layered changeling voice. “They’re out of ear shot.”
“How can you tell?” Scott replied, “You don’t have depth perception.”
“Completely different senses, Derpy.” Ancro retorted, “They’re out of my earshot, and barely on my emotional radar thing.”
“Umm Ancro, they can make their ears better,” Scott added.
“…Well damn, guess we’ll have to stop talking. What do you think, Stigs?” Ancro changed his voice to answer his own question, “It sounds like a good idea to me.”
Scott wanted to pull his feathers out of his head. It was insanity-inducing. “How do you not know this stuff?”
“…Scott, I’ve said this to you several times,” he said, feeling slightly exasperated. “There’s a bit of a learning curb to magic.”
“Well, you need to practice more,” Scott said in a mocking tone. Ancro jabbed him in the shoulder, then cringed a bit when his ribs protested the action. “Dude, you okay?”
“Of course I’m okay,” Ancro said with a smile. He was about to continue with a statement regarding his own flawlessness, but sounds of a struggle interrupted him. 

Specs and Shift thought the reason for the brief pause at the fork was so Ancro could catch his breath, and deciding which way to go. They hadn’t thought that they would use that opportunity to outflank them. With what little energy they had left, the unicorn would’ve been problem enough, and he was. Stigandr was deflecting their low-powered attacks with ease. He had pushed them back and cut off every escape until his two friends came rushing down the hall.
“Where do you think you’re going?”  Scott asked, as he pinned Shift to the ground. Desperately, the changing was trying to get away from the trio after he and his sister had been encircled.
“Somewhere else?” The changeling said, performing a move that would make a contortionist make a double take. Scott was left reeling, and wondering how he had taken a hit to the back of the head from a limb that was supposed to be under him.
“Nope,” Stigandr said. Shift tried to light his horn, and found himself thrown into a wall violently. That left only the sister. 
Ancro had done a flying tackle, and took Specs to the ground, then apologized for hurting her. Ancro did not believe in unnecessary violence towards women. Even if they could switch gender at will. He had to ask someone (someling?) about that. Not right now though, he was too busy putting a double chicken wing on the changeling, and using his own body as a weight to prevent her from doing any double-jointed stuff.
Her horn lit up, and Ancro felt his body start to pop. Though slightly curious as to see where that spell was heading, he decided to find out later. He head butted her into submission, an action that nearly gave Ancro a concussion as well. He got up and proceeded to dry heave, having hit his horn more times than he cared to count. His torso was also screaming from the broken ribs.
“You okay, bud?” Scott asked rushing over to his friend’s aid.
“Of course I’m okay,” Ancro replied, shaking his head and trying to will the nausea away. “As I was saying before, I’m perfect.”
Scott face-taloned at his friend’s typical remark.
“So, do you know how to make that green goop?” Scott asked, pinning down the other changeling.
“No, Scott. I don’t know how to make the green goop.”
“Then what are you good for?” He asked, and Ancro shot him a dirty look before picking up on the joke.
“Making sure you don’t get us all killed, of course.” Ancro retorted, “A difficult task even for one as perfect as me.”
“Well, Ancro, if you are so perfect, why did we have to rescue you?” Scott asked across his beak.
“Being perfect is extremely tiring,” Ancro defended with mock offense, “I can’t be perfect all the time.”
“Mentlegen,” Stigandr chimed in, still holding Shift in his magical grasp, “what are we going to do with these two?”
“We could keep them as pets?” Ancro suggested, getting a look of chagrin from both changelings. Their confusion was only increased when he pointed to shift. “I’d name him Jimmy.”
“What in the name of Tartarus is wrong with you?!” Shift shouted, “My name is Shift! I already told you that, and I’m no one’s pet!”
“Chill, I’m being sarcastic,” Ancro said as Shift continued to flail about helplessly in the air. Meanwhile, Specs was trying to think of a way out of the situation, then the idea struck her. From what she had seen, he had no idea what he was doing or how to use any spell that didn’t involve blowing something up.
“I can teach you,” Specs said towards Ancro. “I’m not gonna lie, from what I’ve seen, your spell repertoire is…”
“Pathetic?” Ancro said, while Specs searched for the word to describe the two three spells he had. Technically four, but the other one was just a modification of the kamikaze thing they had.
“Lacking, was the word I was looking for,” Specs said.
“Okay,” he said, accepting her offer. “How do I make that goop?”
“You mean the wax?” Specs asked in disbelief. “Why do you keep calling it goop?”
“Can’t say,” Ancro said, telling the truth and earning a baffled look from the changeling. “Just tell me how to make the wax.”
“So you can trap us in a cocoon?”
“Maaaybe,” Ancro replied, not bothering to hide his intent.
“No, you follow us,” Specs said. “We go back to our hide-out, and when we are safe, then I’ll teach you.”
“Huddle,” Scott called Stigandr and Ancro over.  Ancro used what little magic he had left to keep Specs pinned. He wasn’t sure if she was staying still out of courtesy, or him overpowering her.

“What are they talking about?” Shift whispered to his sister.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Specs replied, “As long as they hurry.” 
“Why?” He asked. Specs tasted the worry in his voice.
“How many princesses rule Equestria?” She added, letting her own façade slide and show her brother she was worried as well. 
“Two,” His voice shrunk, and if he had pupils they would dilate. “Y-you can sense her?”
“Barely, but she’s getting closer,” she said, her emotional tone going from worry to scared. In a desperate attempt to make light of the bad situation, she made a joke, something she had learned from the ponies. “Who thought that recon training would come in handy?”

“So it’s settled, then?” Ancro asked, after some short debating and bickering within the huddle.
“I guess,” Scott said, “But if they-“
“Yes, Scott, we get it,” Ancro said, wishing he could pull out his mane; the griffin had tried to drive that point home several times. “You’ll try to do something, but get beaten.” The griffin grumbled at the jab, but he had to admit it to be true.
The trio turned to face their changeling captives. 
“Here’s the deal,” Scott said to the changelings. “You guys are going to be on point, and I guess you’ll lead us to your hideout and teach our buddy Ancro some new tricks, but we’re leaving as soon as we are ready.”
Ancro and Stigandr lowered the telekinetic field that held them in place. There was a tense moment.
“…Well, are we leaving?” Specs said, leading them down the tunnel, her brother right beside her. There was still tension in the air as they followed. Ancro made it a point to try to alleviate it.
“Anyling know any good songs?” Ancro said through the silence. He was answered with silence. “Why did the chicken cross the road?” Again silence. “Tough hall.”
Shift chuckled at the pun. Specs face-hooved, Ancro obviously had spent way too much time with ponies and griffins. 
“Oh Ancro, as always, you so punny,” Stigandr groaned.
“Well, I am perfect after all.” That broke the ice as Specs had to laugh at the insane proclamation. She could feel that Ancro knew he wasn’t, but even she had to laugh.

Ancro had achieved his goal of a less tension-filled walk down the hallway. He was smiling as his ribs were healing and he was being fed from his two best friends. He would’ve preferred to be sitting down and getting the emotion out of them, since that method had proven to be more affective in his routine trials since he got to Equestria.
“Umm Ancro,” Specs said, breaking the calm silence, “You know you’d heal better if you replaced your ribs with an exoskeleton, right?”
“No, I didn’t know that,” Ancro replied then added, “Nor do I know how to do that.” He tasted the shock he was getting from both Specs and Shift, and it was priceless. ‘It’s going to be so much fun to troll these two,’ Ancro thought gleefully. The brother and sister responded to his unexpected joy with confusion.
“You have a lot to teach.”
Heavy galloping hoofsteps came down the hall. Ancro felt the presence, and honestly wasn’t sure what to make of it. It tasted bitter, like anger, but with more…iron? Specs and Shift darted to the ceiling, having only felt this once before, and both times directed at them. Pure rage and hatred was coming down the hall, as well as power… Terrifying amounts of power, to combine with those emotions. Ancro saw no place for his friends to hide, and stayed on the ground. He signaled for them to be ready.

“…Then a bright flash, and a bam,” Scott finished.
“Yeah, that was the paralysis spell,” Stigandr replied from behind the curtain. “He knocked you out first, then Ancro and I teamed up on him. It didn’t go to well.”
“We’re in chains, I can tell.”
“It went even worse for Ancro,” Stigandr replied, “After he overpowered our magic and trapped me in a bubble, Ancro rushed him.”
“How’d that go for the little bug?” Scott replied, imagining his friend comically charging a unicorn, screaming some insane battle cry.
“He’s in critical condition,” Stigandr replied, his voice changing to something more serious. “Shining Armor went berserk. He even hit Princess Cadence when she tried to pull him off Ancro!”

They sat and made idle small talk until the door to their room opened. Both curtains were pulled back, and Twilight Sparkle was standing there, flanked by two guards brandishing spears. She had a clipboard in her magical grasp. Scott glanced at his friend, and noticed a ring on his horn.
“Good, both of you are awake,” she said, forcing herself to be cheery. “Now, I have some questions for you, and I want answers.”
“Blow it out your ass,” Scott said, to Stigandr’s, Twilight’s and even the guards’ shock. He retained a high and mighty, defiant look upon his face. Twilight’s, on the other hand, flashed with the rage of stress and frustration. She lifted the griffin, bed and all, and brought him towards her face. She made that she was about to say something, then decided to lay the bed back down, With Scott on the bottom. It wouldn’t be dangerous; the head rest would stop the weight of the bed from crushing him, however, it would be very uncomfortable.
“Sleep like that for the night,” Twilight growled, before stepping out of the room and stomping off. Yes, the griffin had been a bit of jerk in Ponyville, but that was just uncalled for. He should be glad that none of her friend’s heard his comment. She smiled at each of her friend’s reactions, ranging from Rainbow Dash throwing him out the window, to Rarity insulting him in such a way that he couldn’t understand it.
She flipped a page on her clipboard and sighed, it was the list of ponies that had gone missing from the prison. Several of the most dangerous ponies in Equestria were on the loose, changelings were hiding in the palace, and her brother’s marriage was falling apart. All because of their “friend”, she had checked up on him several times and was astounded at the changeling’s natural healing prowess. This didn’t make her less angry, but only more curious. Perhaps he may yield the secrets to catch the changelings that had infiltrated the palace.

Ancro was aware that every part of his body hurt. One of his eyes was swollen shut, his forelegs were broken, and his wings had been blown off. He had forgotten that Shining Armor was captain of the royal guard, and as such he most likely exceeded him when it came to hoof to hoof combat as well as magic. Breathing was difficult as well, which was evident by the tube that had been pushed down his throat. He glanced around, and saw three guards with their backs to him. He tried to say something, but then realized his jaw was wired shut as well. A part of him laughed, wondering if it was the captain’s idea, or if Shining Armor had just broken his jaw as well while he was beating him up.
“Good, you’re awake,” came a familiar voice. It took Ancro a moment to place it. In that moment, he realized that Shiny also most likely gave him a concussion with the last buck to the head. Twilight Sparkle moved into view. She didn’t look happy.
“I’m aware you are not able to talk right now, but rest assured you will be taken care of and put in rooms with your two…friends.” Ancro took a note that she said the last part with particular hesitation, “which I believe will aid your healing faculties.”
Ancro blinked at her slowly, taking his time to understand the words. “I have been given permission to repurpose several of the rooms in the palace to accommodate you. Understandably, you will be under watch and magically restrained at all times. I’ve modified one of the magical rings we are using for your unicorn friend on you, it will syphon off all but the most necessary energy you…absorb from them.” Ancro could taste some anger directed at him, despite her calm exterior. He could also taste something else…pity? He wasn’t sure. Either way, he was stuck with Twilight as his caretaker for the time being.

Cadence was sobbing, with a sizable bruise on her eye. Shining Armor had accused her of being a changeling. She had arrived just in time to witness Shining Armor nearly kill Ancro. She thought he was dead at first.He had gone limp and wasn’t moving. She ran over to try to pull Shining Armor away, and she could tell he wasn’t well. The look in his eyes... Then he called her a changeling, and…and hit her! He had finally snapped out, once he realized what he had done. Luna had shown up and had witnessed it as well.
Discord smiled, he remembered the recipe quite well after seeing it only once in a thousand years.  The seed was planted. In time, that seed of loneliness and despair can turn a creature like an Alicorn into a monster. All she needed now, was a little alone time. Those humans had proven exceptionally useful, which reminded him he needed to check on the human who got the most of Shining Armor’s wrath. He needed to cover his tracks, and make himself useful to them or they would crush his hopes of freedom.

Shining Armor looked in the mirror and sulked. He hated himself. He let his anger get the best of him. He had hit Cadence, thinking she was changeling. Had Luna not shown up, who knows what he could’ve done? He didn’t deserve his rank, or his title, and had immediately requested to take a leave of absence. Celestia said he would have all the time he needed. He crumpled up a piece of paper and threw it on the floor. It landed in the pile, like the rest. He kept trying to write an apology to her, but it didn’t work, nothing would. He had hit her, after swearing to protect her he had actually struck the mare he loved. He couldn’t even look at himself, much less her.
There was a knock on the door. It couldn’t be one of the guards, seeing as how he given them strict orders not to bother him. He opened the door, and in walked a pegasus maid, with a feather duster cutie mark.
“Housekeeping,” she said in a cheery tone. Shining Armor nodded and stepped out of the room so she could get to work. A walk might help him out. He hoped.
Once the door was closed, the maid’s changeling magic lifted up the crumpled paper. She read it and smiled. The news of Shining Armor’s indefinite leave of absence had brought about some confusion within the guards and the changelings that had infiltrated the palace. This cleared things up greatly, and would make wonderful news to the queen. She felt some presences approach the room, and stashed the paper in her outfit, while continuing her cleaning.

(Sorry about the wait like I said in the last credits I was spending a lot of time with my grandparents. Also had this chapter was a real pain, literally had to rewrite it three times. On the plus side got some good fishing in! Anyways big thanks to my friend Sara for editing and the cover art. For commissions contact her at shaya.laperro@gmail.com. Thanks to my friends who I’ve based two-thirds of the Triumvirate on. Feedback as always is appreciated in anyway shape or form. Let me know any way I can make this a better story for your enjoyment!)

> Locked up, ideas, and plans.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 17


It had been a rough night sleep for Stigandr. Partly from being tied down, partly because he knew he was being watched and partly because Scott kept whining. He had to agree that what Twilight did was a bit extreme, but funny regardless.
Stigandr felt everything in his body shift as a purple light momentarily blinded his eyes. The magic completely overwhelmed his blocks and he was immediately in a different room. A large and well-furnished room that was decorated in a similar manner to the room Rarity had when she visited Canterlot. Except one major drawback, no windows. Obviously, they had planned ahead. The bed he was strapped down on had not been teleported with him, so he was free to move about.
There were three doors. He took his time walking around the room. He tried to open it with his magic, then remembered there was a ring around his horn to prevent that. He leaned down and carefully tried to open it with his mouth. Nope, it was locked. He tried another door, and found it to lead to the bathroom. The last door led to another room, where Scott was still upside down and tied to a hospital bed.
“Watch your talons,” Stigandr said as he kicked the bed onto its side and clumsily tried to undo the restraints with his hooves, then his mouth. The latter earning a disgusted groan from Scott. Finally, it was off. Scott quickly waved him away and rubbed his arm all over the sheets.
“I got this,” he said, cutting through the rest of the restraints. Finally, when he was free, the bed vanished. “That was just a dick move.”
Stigandr chuckled and had moved on to trying out the other doors. There were four in the room Scott had been teleported into, counting the one he had just gone through. Scott walked next to him as he opened the door to bathroom…and wiped what was left of his spit covered foreleg on Stigandr’s mane. The pony kneed him in the ribs.
“You know…I just realized something. I can do something… and you can’t really prevent now that you don’t have your magic,” the griffin said wryly, realizing he may never get this chance again. His friend was looking at one of the doors, only paying half attention.
“Scott I really want you to-“ He was cut off by the feeling of one of the griffin’s talons working its way inside his ear, and it was wet. “You ass!” The pony jumped, and preceded to wrestle the griffin into submission. 
“It was worth it.” The griffin chuckled, rubbing the fresh bruise that was on his foreleg. Finally, they opened the last door. They saw Ancro looking towards the door, a soft smile on his face. At least, that’s what it looked like with the wires and the two fangs popping out of his mouth. It made the smile look extremely disturbing from their perspective.
“So...how did you piss of Twilight?” Scott asked, trying to lighten the mood. Ancro raised an eyebrow and the griffin began to explain. Ancro had to laugh at hearing how his friend did something stupid, and he wasn’t even there to watch.
Ancro felt himself get better and better while in close proximity to his friends. Still not anywhere close to 100%. If anything, his legs had only just mended. The worst part was he was coming up with well-timed and perfect puns to go with the conversation between Scott and Stigs, but since his mouth was wired shut he couldn’t use them.
“Ahem.” Twilight said, standing in the room, shutting the door behind her. Ancro noted that she was acting as a buzzkill, cutting off and lessening the love he was getting from his friends. Another thing he had just noticed, apparently he got the most when they were paying attention to him. “I hope you all like your accommodations,” she said, somewhat uncertain of herself. She was wearing saddlebags for whatever reason. Ancro noticed they were full of, what else, books. He skimmed the title, it was something about criminology. He had to attempt to smile at the prospect of being interrogated by these ponies. Maybe Pinkie Pie will be the bad cop, or Rainbow Dash. He hadn’t met her yet.
“They’re nice, thank you,” Stigandr said, giving Scott a cautionary look. The griffin looked genuinely shocked.
Twilight’s mood immediately relaxed. “I’m glad.” It changed to one of mild regret soon after. “Honestly, I was kind of hoping that you were under a changeling spell.”
“Why was that?” Stigandr asked. Scott went into the next room to dig around the cabinets, seeing if he could find anything of interest.
“Well, it would’ve meant you all would have been innocent of helping him.” She said, “now, seeing as how it is, both of you are locked up with him.”
“Well, misery loves company, and if there’s any company I’d like to be miserable with it’s these two,” Stigandr said, looking calmly into Twilight’s eyes. She gazed back and pulled out a note pad and started to write. Ancro could tell that piqued her curiosity, with her being a student of friendship and all.
“So how long have you three known each other?” She asked, pulling one of the cushions Ancro was lying on out from under him, making his entire upper back feel sore. Hide it as she may, on the outside Ancro could tell that she still didn’t like him.
“The three of us, we’ve been friends for years.”
“And you’ve experienced no harmful side effects from that changeling?” Twilight asked, partly curious and partly in surprise.
“None that I’ve been able to tell,” Stigandr joked. Ancro felt some energy going into him from the tease. “Well, there is how he’s the reason why we’re locked up, but it could be worse.”
“You’re not locked up,” Twilight said, looking hurt.
“So, if the three of us just wanted to stroll out of the palace and head on our way, you wouldn’t stop us?” Stigandr replied with a sly grin. Twilight’s ears went flat against her head, she was actually hoping to have just gotten away with imprisoning Ancro. But reality set in, and she didn’t know how much trouble those two would cause if they were let out. When Ancro was kept locked up, there was also the necessity of feeding him. She didn’t want put Cadence through that. 
“No, I’m sorry, I’m just not sure if that’s a good idea,” She finally said. “I can see if I can get something for you and Scott, maybe some time in the garden, but Ancro isn’t allowed to leave.” There was a long pause as Twilight worked up the courage to get the rest of her preplanned statement out of her mouth. This conversation wasn’t going anywhere near as she planned. “Starting tomorrow, you and your friends will be interviewed individually. We have a bit of a problem with…security in the palace.”
“That sounds like your problem,” Scott called from the next room.
Twilight’s eyebrow twitched and she took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m not going to force any of you to help, but it would be appreciated by the princesses.” She turned and trotted out of the room. Ancro and Stigandr took note that the door showed nothing beyond the room, all there was instead was a white aura permeating from the door.
The guards quickly jumped to their positions as the door opened, pointing their spears, ready to storm in. They immediately stood at attention when Twilight walked out. She wished that all this wasn’t necessary. The magically locked doors, the aura that prevented them from seeing beyond the door way, and the four dozen guards, but Ancro had a record and she still wasn’t sure what his friends would do.
She hadn’t talked to her brother since she heard about what he had done. She didn’t know what to say, to be angry, or disappointed or what. He hadn’t tried to talk to her either, or anypony for that matter, all he had done was request an indefinite leave of absence. Even Pinkie Pie was at a loss for a way to cheer him up.
Then there was Cadence. She hadn’t come out of her room since it had happened. She wouldn’t talk to anypony, not Celestia, Luna, or even Twilight. This just compounded the lavender unicorn’s stress as she thought of ways to detect changelings. So far, she knew she couldn’t count on Ancro’s help, seeing as how changelings even have some difficulty spotting their own kind. She also couldn’t count on him not to do anything brash to help his own kind like she had witnessed in the prison. She still didn’t know what had happened to the other changelings. They vanished in the sewers, so she had to assume that they had been separated.
Another thing that was bothering her, was how adamant Ancro had been and even went out of his way to save Cadence, according to Pinkie Pie. That had been the only thing keeping him and his friends out of the prison that they were still sweeping for parasprites! Yet, a minute after saving Cadence and surrendering, he helps the changeling that she had captured. He must’ve known that going peacefully would’ve given him an easier time, possibly even parole! Yet his actions show no long term thought and seemed based entirely on impulse. No wonder he was able to get along with Pinkie Pie.
This was all compounded by the fact that he was the only changeling that may help. The changelings her brother had captured with the exception of the commander had all referred to him as a traitor. The commander was currently in an isolated intensive care unit to deal with his severe burns. Part of her was thinking it could all be a smoke screen that the changelings created to give them an agent in the palace. Something they already had. Were they wanting a changeling that would act as a double agent? That still didn’t explain his friends. They were the only factor that made it seem against the odds that he wasn’t siding with Chrysalis. Those three had a genuine friendship amongst them, not some spell that was allowing him to feed off them while using them as puppets.

Ancro opened his mouth and felt the satisfying pop of his jaw. It felt wonderful. The wire that had been keeping his mouth shut had vanished after his jaw had healed. With his healed forelegs, he braced himself and proceeded to pop every vertebrae in his spine. Stigandr looked over upon hearing the noise.
“Feeling better?” The brown unicorn asked as his friend struggled to stand on the ground, somewhat wobbily.
“Much better, so how do you know Twilight?”
“Met her at the hospital in Ponyville.” Stigandr smiled wickedly, “Along with the rest of the mane 6.”
“Normally, I’d be a bit jealous, but not this time.” Ancro replied, “I got to meet all three princesses, and even got a history lesson from Celestia.”
“What did you learn?” Stigandr asked. Ancro took a moment to peg the emotions. It was curiosity mixed with a hint of jealousy.
“All I got was a lesson about Starswirl.” Ancro chuckled. “Apparently  he was the only pony wh-“
“Guys, we’re trapped in a pony prison!” Scott said irately, “I think we have bigger problems to worry about than who’s met which pony and what princess!”
“Some griffin’s in a bad mood,” Discord said, as his shadow slithered out from under the bed.
“So Discord, you finish that project I have you working on?” Stigandr said, narrowing his eyes. “It’d be a shame if Twilight discovered the state of the spell that contains you.”
“Wow, immediately pulling out the big guns?” Discord smiled, “Don’t worry, I outsourced it, I assure you that no matter who does it, the spell will take the same amount of time. By the way, your charming friend’s threat reminded me to ask you something, Ancro.”
“Shoot,” The changeling replied, looking at the shadow with intrigue as it slithered along the walls.
“Why didn’t you threaten me in much the same manner as Stigandr did?”
“I assumed it was understood,” Ancro replied, half-way shocked, “Kind of a you scratch my back, I don’t tell them I’ve been getting visits from a certain draconequus.”
“Clever.” He replied.
“Pretty obvious, I thought.” Ancro answered.
“Amazing how often those go claw and paw.” Discord’s smile seemed fairly evil as he faded out from the wall. Which was difficult to tell, considering he was in fact a shadow. His voice was the last thing to vanish, “I’m going to take a peek at your world, it may take a while so you three stay out of trouble alright?”
“…Yeah, he’s definitely going stab us in the back,” Ancro said with a nod.
“Anyway,” Scott said after Discord was gone, “What’s the plan to break out of here?”
“I don’t know,” Stigandr said, while Ancro shrugged.
“Can’t you magic your way out of this? I mean your talent is adapt and ov-“ Scott’s words were silenced by Stigandr shoving his hoof in the griffon’s beak.
“Relax Stigs,” Ancro said, “Discord wouldn’t have shown up if we were being watched.”
“Awwwderp,” he said, pulling his hoof off Scott’s beak and wiping the spit on the griffon’s neck feathers. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s alright,” Scott said, after pulling some fur off his tongue.
“Yeah, answered a question I was going to ask,” Ancro chuckled.
“Which was?” Scott asked in reply.
“That I’m keeping my talent a secret,” Stigandr answered, looking hard at Scott. “It also means that we should give away as little about us as possible.”
“Oh, another question,” Ancro said, waving his hoof like an elementary school kid. “Whatever happened to Specs and Shift?”
“Those jack-asses ran off as soon as Shining Armor showed up,” Scott growled. Ancro was glad he wouldn’t be in their hooves when his friend got a hold of them. If there’s one thing Scott could do, it was hold a grudge.

Meanwhile in the heart of Canterlot, two ponies, a pegasus and a unicorn busily bussed tables in the afternoon rush. The restaurant had switched owners a few months ago, when the previous owner had decided to leave the hustle of Canterlot after the changeling attack. He didn’t have the faintest idea who had bought it.
“So…what’s the plan, sis?” Shift asked his sister as they sat down for their break at the restaurant. The other deserters were glad to have the help back.
“The plan?” She asked, wondering if her brother was actually serious. “It’s the same as usual, we lay low and fee-“
She cut herself off when she realized her brother was paying absolutely no attention to her. He was more or less fixated on the orange pegasus walking by. She was a new customer, but that wasn’t what got her brother’s attention. It was just how familiar she had looked… She looked just like the pony who was the centerpiece of the Wonderbolts poster outside. Yet, there were some subtle differences to her, differences only a trained eye could tell.
Specs had to admit it was kind of funny watching her try to act cool around ponies that thought she was the famous Wonderbolt captain. On the outside, you’d think that the confusion didn’t bother her. Inside though, it was bringing her to a boil. Her brother just sat there and stared at her in the discrete way a changeling could.
“You are aware you’ll never get a good meal by sitting around with me all day, right?” Specs asked rhetorically. She knew it was about more than food, her baby brother had his first crush, and the opportunity to go after it. She couldn’t help but find it adorable.
Although his body didn’t show it, he was nervous. This was his first time actively going after food. He was used to feeding off the emotions that he’d get from providing good and enjoyable service at the restaurant. Granted, often times it was borderline starvation, but they still endured.
Firecracker was flipping through the menu, still feeling sore. Hoplon had recommended the restaurant to her before. He said the food was great and the service was better. She’d have to remember to bring him back one of their desserts when she stopped by the hospital. She still wasn’t cleared to fly, her friend was confined to a hospital bed with a case of the broken… everything. He was supposed to be out within a week, and cleared for duty within a month. She was going to be cleared for duty after a psych examination.
She had been having nightmares about the changelings that had attacked her. They were faster, stronger, and more powerful than her. They also had every chance to kill her, but instead they stuffed her and Hoplon in a broom closet. It was a miracle the guards sweeping the prison had found her, and that they had exercised such great spear discipline.
“Excuse me,” A green pegasus said, notepad in hoof and pencil in mouth, “are you ready to order ma’am?”
She had been so lost in thought that she had completely forgotten what she wanted to eat. “Umm, what’s good?”
“Well, the soupe de legoumes is always a good choice, since it’s your first time here,” the waiter said patiently, “You know I can’t help but thi-“
“No, I’m not Spitfire, or her twin sister, or cousin, and no, I’m not a changeling pretending to be her,” Firecracker said plainly, like she had already given that speech a thousand times today.
The waiter chuckled a bit, “No, I was going to say the most beautiful mare I’ve ever seen.”
“Nice save,” She said while flipping through the menu.
“Wasn’t a save at all,” he replied with a calm smile.
“Okay,” She said with a laugh, “You’ve guaranteed yourself a tip. I’ll have what you said was good.”
“It will be right out,” he said, taking her menu and tucking it under his wing.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked through the sculpture garden trying to relax and come up with ways to identify changelings. Twilight was busy with her own idea, involving those three they had captured in the sewers.
“Maybe we could pick up the ponies that can’t fly and drop them from a high place?” Rainbow Dash said, scratching her mane.
“Uh, Rainbow Dash,” Apple Jack said, searching for the right words to tell her this plan, like the rest, wouldn’t work. “Some ponies might take affense to bein’ dropped from a very high spot.”
“Don’t worry, I could totally catch them,” she said, waving a hoof. Rainbow Dash then caught Apple Jack’s gaze. “On second thought, it’s not such a good idea. I don’t see you coming up with anything though.”
“Well, outside the obvious,” Apple Jack said, bucking an apple tree and catching the apple in her mouth. “Ah can’t come up with nuthin’. Ah don’t think Twilight is gonna get anything from that Ancro either. Still can’t believe that those two were in cahoots with him.”
“Yeah, well she thinks it worth a shot.”
“And it mahght be,” Apple Jack continued, “but ah don’t think we can trust him. Or his friends, fer that matter.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash sighed, “So how about you help me come with some ideas for catching changelings?”

*knock**knock**knock* “Hey,” *knock**knock**knock* “Hey,” *knock**knock**knock* “H-“ The door flung open and a guard walked through. Instead of the calm demeanor that most the guards kept at all times, his teeth were clenched, eyes bloodshot, and he had blood vessel standing out of his forehead. Scott stood there silently for a second as the guard glared up at him.
“What do you want?” Ancro sensed it was taking every bit of his restraint not to beat the griffin. Ancro understood where the guard was coming from, had someone done the ‘Sheldon-from Big-Bang-Theory- Knocking’ routine to him and kept it up for three hours straight, he’d be irate too.
“Can we get some more toilet paper?” Scott said, sheepishly.
“And a punching bag!” Ancro shouted from the bed.
“Yeah, and some books.” Scott said, remembering Stigs mentioning them before he found out that they didn’t have toilet paper. 
“Anything else?” He said, grinding his teeth.
“A fez!” Ancro asked, resulting in the door slamming in Scott’s face. “…do you think we made him mad?”

“Hi, Rarity,” Twilight said, upon seeing her friend. She almost jumped out of her coat when her friend unzipped herself, and Pinkie Pie emerged.
“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said, “You blew my cover, I was trying to disguise myself. I was trying to make them think I was Applejack!”
“B-Th-Ho-Wh-“ Twilight stammered, trying desperately to come up with the words to explain to her friend why that didn’t make any sense, before resigning herself to accepting that it’s Pinkie Pie. “Make who think you were Applejack?”
“The changeling’s of course, silly,” Pinkie Pie said as she started to bounce. “That’s why we stayed in Canterlot, Twilight, remember we were outside the prison after Ancro had hit you and Cadence on the horn to escape. Celestia said she was worried about changelings in Canterlot, and you volunteered to help her and Rarity and Applejack and Flutt-“
“Yes, Pinkie Pie, I remember,” Twilight said rolling her eyes. “I was jus-Don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t worry Twilight, let your dear old auntie Pinkie Pie handle this.”

“Rarity, shouldn’t we… umm… be helping Twilight?” Fluttershy murmured as they walked into the spa.
“We will, Fluttershy,” Rarity said with a smile as she paid the spa ponies. “But this is the finest spa in Canterlot and they are having a special, besides we did miss our spa day. The- ahem –problems… will still be there after we get done, I assure you.”
“I know,” Fluttershy said, “I’m just a little confused, that’s all.”
“Whatever for, my dear?” Rarity asked as one of the ponies began to work vigorously at massaging her back.
“Stigandr and Scott,” She said, as she flinched a bit from the pony gently poking her.
“They were a pair of poor ponies, whom that Ancro fellow most likely deceived in some way,” Rarity said, her voice laced with spite and aggravation. “Even if he didn’t use a spell to control their minds, he still tricked them into endangering themselves, despite the fact that his own rescue was coming.”
“Maybe,” Fluttershy said, then decided to change the subject. “So, do you have any plans for solving the ‘ahem’ problem?”
“A few, Fluttershy,” Rarity said. “Do you think you could talk any of your animal friends into helping us out?”
“I tried, but they all said they couldn’t help,” She continued as they walked into the sauna. “The only reason Bruce could tell the difference was because the one in the prison was scared. When they are scared, they smell different, apparently.”
“Well, we can’t just wait for nightmare night to roll around to find them,” Rarity said in thought, before whining, “Why does finding changelings have to be so haaard?”
“Don’t worry Rarity,” Fluttershy said with an encouraging smile, “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

Chrysalis stood in her throne room, half paying attention to the contest between two changelings, both vying for a post in her Praetorians. From what little attention she had paid, she could tell both changelings knew each other fairly well, perhaps even brothers. She’d have to remember to find out after the fight. The rest of the court and the captain of the Praetorians watched patiently as both changelings fought using the best of their skills. Nothing else would do, since it was a fight to the death.
The queen’s eyes appeared transfixed upon the fight, her emotions fluctuating as the changelings fought each other with the passion only found between close friends. In her mind, however, she was staring at a map of the target of her people. Equestria itself had proven a far tougher meal than she had hoped. So, taking it was far from her mind for now. Instead, she stared at the map of the Crystal Empire. An empire fueled and powered by love. It was a smaller, if far more delectable, meal than Equestria. The Crystal Ponies’ terror would provide such a wonderful dessert to a filling meal.
The only obstacle was the accursed Crystal Heart. It thwarted every attempt by her changelings to enter the city. It was even powerful enough to stop her, making what was originally a nuisance now a major problem, and an insult towards her. To think that she, the queen of the changelings, would be overpowered by a mere artifact! She had respect for the makers of the crystal heart, but it was greatly overshadowed by her frustration. Her first action would be destroying the artifact. Sombra may have failed to destroy it, but it wouldn’t stop her from trying.
Duo ducked under his friend’s claw swipe. The same swipe they had practiced together. His friend, still in mid-air, rolled away from Duo’s counter attack. They had both lost their wings early on in the fight. They stood on equal ground, and they both wanted it badly. Duo, however, had more on the line. His family had a long history within Chrysalis’s Praetorian guard. His sister was currently on assignment in Canterlot. His friend had only joined when Duo decided to go. Trhey were certain that they wouldn’t end up having to kill each other. Yet, here they were. It was fate that they shared the same bracket.
Duo’s friend’s latest swiped nicked the end of his muzzle, and he countered by immediately lunging under his friend’s torso while he was still off balance. Since neither could fly anymore, knocking him into the air would give Duo a slight advantage. He had forgotten who had taught him that move, though. His friend had managed to skillfully land on his feet. They were both approaching their limits to sustain apex. The friends circled each other like hungry timber wolves, preparing to fight for the title of alpha. Duo feigned a rush, causing his friend to lurch back in preparation to counter. He barely noticed the fireball that knocked him back.
Duo took his chance and grabbed him with his magic, just before he left the circle that signified the arena. His sister warned him what happens to the Praetorians that win by a technicality. The usual hazing is far more severe. In his magical grasp, he held his best friend’s life, and he acted without hesitation. His action was sudden and deliberate. He crushed every bone in his former friend’s body. There was a solitary scream as his the last of the air left his friend’s lungs, and the body went limp and fell to the ground. It reverted back to its base form, but even that was unrecognizable. Duo was forced back into his base form as the last of his reserves went dry.
“Congratulations, Duo,” Chrysalis said, waking out of her deep thoughts enough to congratulate the winner and remember his name. She continued her speech whilst stepping down from her throne. “You have proven yourself a valuable warrior to our people, and you have passed the tests that had been set before you. Kneel.”
The changeling kneeled as his queen towered over him. Her crooked horn bent down to touch the changeling’s forehead. Immediately, the changeling felt his magic replenish.
“Now, rise as one of my Praetorians, sworn to follow my orders. Even if they call for your death.”
“Understood, your majesty.” The changeling rose.
“Your majesty,” a changeling burst into the throne room panting heavily, a scroll floating beside him. “Message from our spy in Canterlot.” Chrysalis took the message, and the changeling left in much the same fashion he had entered. She would need to remember to have him reprimanded for not showing proper protocol. 
The green ink that sealed the scroll melted away in her magic, and she unfurled it and read the report. For the most part, it was bad news. The decana of praetorians she had sent had been taken alive. The changeling they had been hoping to recruit turned out to be a traitor, whose powers were greatly lacking in expectations. Another changeling she would have to reprimand came to mind. Then she read something towards the bottom of the scroll. A statement that brought her mouth to a dark grin, something she had been waiting for. An opening into the Crystal Empire, while none of her kind could enter thanks to that accursed Heart, she had to wonder if the distraught captain of the guard could enter.
“Commander.” The commander who had been standing silently in the shadow beside the thrown immediately kneeled for his queen, “Send three decana of Praetorians to Canterlot. One to kill the traitor who now resides imprisoned within the palace, the second to abduct Shining Armor, the third to kill the Praetorians that had allowed themselves to be taken captive.”
“Yes, your majesty,” he said, before flying out of the room. Duo followed the commander. They were heading to the same place, the praetorian barracks where he would get his position and assignment. He hoped for a specific one, knowing that the decana his sister was in was the only one in Canterlot.

(Thanks for reading! Big thanks to my editor/artist Sara (shaya.laperro@gmail.com) I’d like to thank my friends who haven’t complained about me writing about them in this context. Worst apocalypse ever by the way not a single zombie or meteor or Great Old One I was hoping that R’lyeh rise. My prayers go to the families of the people who were killed in the shooting in Connecticut.)

> Meetings, Assignments, and Experiments
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 18

This was a good dream. Scott’s dreams looked fairly basic, but this one was over the top and epic. Typically, his lucid dreams were zombie apocalypse. This, was that and more, lots more. He was making an epic stand on a hill top with zombies. The flood, tyranids, and Zerg were rushing him in an epic charge. He had a space marine stormbolter in one hand, and the other he had the halo 4 SAW. Also, there was a terrified woman wearing tattered clothes wrapped around his leg. As lucid dreams go for him, this was the best. Master Chief, Duke Nukem, the God Emperor of Mankind, and Ash Williams to his left, the cast from the Expendables 2, including Chuck Norris, to his right, and the Avengers at his back. This was going to be awesome. 
“Get Some!” He shouted, as he stood against wave after endless wave of monsters. “For Teddy Roosevelt, Chesty Puller and Andrew Mutherf***** Jacksooooon!”
He stood his ground as everything that could be thrown at him perished. Screaming profanities and one-liners that caused Duke Nukem to salute. Together, atop the mountain top for what felt like hours upon endless hours, his brave band of warriors fought like Scottish warrior poets from an epic that would be told for centuries, nay millennia, to come.
Finally, through the waves of enemies, the generals arrived. Sauron, Darth Vader, Lord Voldemort, Horus, and Thanos. They looked like they were about to make a speech for typical villains ordering the surrender of the good guys. Scott wasn’t having any of it. He picked up his enchanted naginata and charged them, with the rest of his allies at his back. He had no idea what happened to the hot chick.
Just before they met in what would become an epic battle, something akin to a tidal wave surged the landscape. It rippled the landscape and the swarms of endless inhabitants. A white beacon of light appeared through the thundering clouds in the sky.
Scott’s dream collapsed, and everything devolved into a pure white plain… He was returned to his griffin form. A pony was standing off into the distance. A pony with a unicorn horn and pegasus wings. Scott wracked his brain for the proper term… Alicorn, that’s it.
“Are thy dreams typically so void?” asked the dark blue alicorn with an ethereal mane. 
“No, typically they are pretty out there,” Scott replied, scratching his head. Great, he was griffin again. “May I help you with anything, since I’m pretty sure this isn’t part of a dream?” The griffin could tell everything seemed too surreal, including the white.
“You are correct,” She said ,in voice that screamed stick-up-the-butt royalty. “I was merely examining your dream, and hoping to meet with you, as well as the rest of your friends.”
“And you are Luna, I presume?” Scott asked, much to Luna’s shock. She had known her name may not be as common amongst the griffins, but she should still be recognized.
“Yes, I am Princess Luna,” she said, cutting out the royal ‘We’. Her sister had told her that she needed to be less proper.
“What did you want to talk about?” Scott asked, trying to get things back to the matter at hand.
“Your friendship with Ancro and Stigandr,” She replied. Her horn glowed, and a cushion appeared. She sat upon it.“We wish to know how it began.”
“Isn’t that what Twilight’s going to do tomorrow?” Scott asked, sitting down on the…nothing. This blank dream was going to force a san check. 
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle is going to interview each of you, but I desired a slightly more personal touch,” she replied. She took note that he was busy examining the blank dreamscape, mainly the plain they were standing on.
“What do you expect me to say?” Scott said, trying to think of something that would start the conversation or sway into a direction that she could understand, and maybe put two and two together and lift the…mute spell? They hadn’t really come up with a name for it yet, had they? He’d have to discuss that with them when he woke up.
“I just wish to know how you all met,” Luna said, hoping to start a conversation that may help her understand what the relationship between these three was. She still hadn’t written off changeling control entirely.
“Well, that’s pretty easy,” Scott said smiling. “It began back when Ancro had jus-” Scott woke up in his bed, scratching his shoulder. He got up and went to the bathroom.
Luna shook her head and grunted in frustration. Just when she was about to get some answers, the griffin had woken. It would take him a while to go back into that state of sleep. She could simply cast a spell that would make them sleep; however, it would not guarantee bringing them to the dreams in which she could contact them. Dreams were a funny thing that she couldn’t create, and could not alter them to the extremes. She was at the relative mercy of the dreamer; however, if she got into any trouble, she could simply leave. She decided to try again, this time with the changeling.

Ancro ran through a forest, but something was off about it. He couldn’t place what it was, though. As he ran, he became aware that he was being chased. He didn’t know what was chasing him, he just hoped it stopped. He nervously slowed his pace and hoped it just happened to be on the same path as him, and it just was just coincidentally running blindly through the forest.
It turned out to be false, and he felt hot breathing on the back of his fin. Nervously, the changeling turned around and simultaneously wanted to scream, vomit, and pee himself. There were a few things that outright terrified Ancro, one of which was spiders. This one had long grey legs and, for a spider, an abnormally large abdomen. It heavily resembled one of the spiders you would find in your basement or other damp, dark places. Two of its legs seized Ancro, while the two rear legs started to try to web him up.
Ancro, panicking and not able to use his magic, desperately tried to bite the spider to make it let go. Then he looked down and noticed that it was even more terrifying on the ground. There were spiders scurrying around everywhere. He wanted to die. The he saw the size of the fangs on the spider that was wrapping him up.
Ancro’s bite finally made the giant spider let go, and he flew as fast as his wings would carry him. Unfortunately, that was through several spider webs, and found himself feeling them crawling all over him. He closed his eyes and flew blindly through the forest. Amazed he hadn’t hit anything, he opened his eyes and saw a dim light coming from a door to a log cabin. Desperately, he flew up to it and opened the door with his mouth, diving into the main room.
He looked around for a mirror while he tried to shake the spiders off him and frantically buzzed into the bathroom. The changeling screamed in frustration. The bathroom was all the proof he needed to see to realize it was a dream. He had trained himself to not have lucid dreams, but be able to tell if he was in one by giving himself a trigger. His trigger was that all the bathrooms in his dream looked identical to a gender neutral gas station bathroom, complete with stained ceiling tiles.
He looked in the mirror and was surprised to see Luna looking back behind him. He turned around, but there was nopony there. He turned back to the mirror and she was gone. Ancro took several deep breaths closed his eyes and turned around. He opened them, and saw that Luna had reorganized the bathroom into something akin to a living room.
“Pleasure to meet you again, Princess Luna,” Ancro said, then recalled what happened in their past meeting. “Sorry about hitting you last time.”
“It is alright,” she said in a regal tone, “thy strike didn’t even hurt.”
“So, how may I help you in the wonderful world of my dream?” Ancro asked, walking around and examining the room. She had an eye for detail.
“Dream?” She asked confusedly, “I thought this was a nightmare, with thou’s behavior.”
“You could say it’s that,” Ancro replied, upset that his sarcasm had fallen upon deaf ears. “Still nice to know that I can’t sense your presence here, so no need to worry about hurting me.”
“Yes, it is indeed a good thing to note,” Luna replied. “That was actually the reasoning behind me not trying it after our first encounter.”
“Makes sense,” Ancro replied.
“Does thou mind if I ask thee some questions?” She noticed Ancro tensing up and quickly added, “Nothing truly personal I assure you.” She started off attempting to make Ancro relax. “I was just curious about your relationship with your friends.”
“Like?”
“I’d like to start with when it began,” Luna replied.
Ancro let out a sigh of resignation, something that confused Luna. “Is that all you want to know?”
“Yes, it would be satisfactory,” she said with a nod.
“It started when I met Scott in the-…” The dream collapsed and went white, and Luna was cast out for a second time that night. Ancro woke up and felt his back was stiff. He sat up and popped his back, hearing a satisfying crackle.
“Crap,” Ancro said as he rolled over and lay his head down on the pillow, “now I’m up.”
This was starting to get frustrating, Luna thought, stamping her hoof. She hadn’t expected herself to be ejected from the dream again. Her irritation hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“Is there something wrong, your majesty?” One of her guards spoke up from the shadows beside her.
“Nothing,” She snapped. “I shall be in the garden if I’m needed.”
“Yes, your highness,” he replied.
Twice, she had been kicked out of dreams by untimely wake ups. Her kingdom may be threatened by a force that they had never encountered. Their friendship made no sense, even when you looked beyond the species, to a personality-wise perspective. From what she had gathered, Stigandr was a fairly reserved and polite personality, Scott was a fowl-mouthed griffin, and Ancro was a casual smart mouth. She took a deep breath and decided to try one last time.

The sun was setting, and Stigandr had finally set up camp. Stigandr realized he had forgotten to get firewood. He trotted through the darkening forest picking up sticks, twigs, and dried bark. As he got back to his campsite, he realized that a fire was already going. Stigandr saw Princess Luna standing behind the fire, and he spat the sticks out of his mouth and bowed slightly.
“You know that it would’ve been easier if you had grabbed those with magic,” Luna pointed out. Yes, while he was awake, his magic was blocked but this was a dream, and from what she could tell a fairly lucid one.
“Yeah, I know,” he replied, coming out of the slight bow. “It’s just one of those things I like to do without, it takes away from the experience of living simply.”
“You would be well suited as an earth pony,” Luna said with a friendly smile. She was more comfortable dealing with ponies than a changeling or a griffin.
“Would you like to have a seat?” Stigandr asked politely. Inside, he was excited to get to spend time with one of the Equestrian princesses. “I can make you some tea, if you’d like.”
“You are aware that this is a dream?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, of course I know it is a dream,” Stigandr said, digging out his kettle. “Doesn’t mean I can’t be hospitable.”
“You could simply make tea appear in front of us,” Luna replied, trying to make a point.
“Yes, I could, but then there’s no fun or challenge in that,” Stigandr replied, “defeats the point of living simple, besides there’s a new recipe I’ve been wanting try out.”
She was about to point out that this was a dream…again. Then she realized that it wouldn’t be getting her anywhere, and that this unicorn had his heart set on doing things the hard way.
“I wished to ask you about your friends.” Luna spoke up once the tea was done. He had used pine needles and honey; it smelled drinkable and appealing, to say the least. It didn’t taste awful, either.
“What do you want to know about them?” Stigandr was happy to spend time in Equestria with the ponies from the show, but he also would be happy to not be locked up while being in Equestria. In fact, he was bumping that up to the top of his list of stuff not to do while in Equestria.
“I would like to know how it began,” Luna said plaintively, having already been kicked out of several dreams, it was genuinely starting to get annoying.
“I’m not sure what all I can say,” Stigandr said, trying to be painfully obvious. He tried to put a big flashing neon sign above him that would let Luna know he was literally not sure what all he could say. He really wished somepony would hurry up and suggest that he may not be from this plain. He briefly wondered if Lyra could help.
“What do you mean?” She asked, “Have you been sworn to silence?”
“I can’t say,” Stigandr said, trying to communicate that he literally couldn’t say. He hoped she wouldn’t take it the wrong way.
“What can you tell me?” She asked, losing her patience. Stigandr took this that she wasn’t in a mood for delays, and that she didn’t want him to wait. He figured it was better to look like a fool with his mouth moving incoherently than to waste any more time, and see just how much she could affect the dream.
“Well, I met Scott when we were i-“ Luna was not surprised when the dream collapsed, and she was catapulted back to her own mind.
Luna stood in the garden, utterly confused. Normally, she would’ve thought that her host had merely woken up. That though, was far too convenient, and three times is beyond coincidence. There was something seriously wrong. She hadn’t entered Ancro’s dreams before now, out of fear of harming him like she had done when they had met in person.

After they had woken up and the breakfast had been served by the guards, Stigandr hit Ancro in the shoulder. Not hard enough to actually hurt him, just enough to leave a bruise. “What was that for?”
“Kicking me out a window,” Stigandr replied, smiling.
“I guess I may kind of deserve that…” Ancro replied, rubbing his shoulder. Ancro smirked and threw a light jab that Stigandr easily deflected, then the changeling threw another and another. So they began a bit of light sparring. Scott looked on as his two friends went about their usual business. Stigs had reach on Ancro, the unicorn being taller and lankier. Ancro had a bit more ferocity and tenacity. The changeling also had a tendency to fight dirty. He tripped Stigandr against the bed, and shoulder tackled him at full force. Stigandr wasn’t out yet, and caught his friend with his fore hooves. He wrapped his friend in a headlock that Ancro frantically fought to get out of. They didn’t notice the door open. Ancro did, however, notice the strong presence enter the room and he froze up, which let Stigs get him to the ground.

“Do they do this often?” Twilight asked Scott when she realized they were playing around.
“You have no idea,” The griffin said, rolling his eyes. Those two going at it like that with company around was a bit embarrassing.
Stigandr let go of Ancro and the duo immediatly stood up. Ancro took note of the saddle bags filled with slightly less stuff. “We need to talk about some of your request.”
All eyes looked to Ancro. “What, fezzes are cool.” The changeling adamantly defended. “I want a fez, a blue one.”
Scott and Stigandr had known what to do when Ancro got like this. Just move along and ignore him. “So, no more harassing guards?” Stigandr said, ending the awkward pause.
“Now then, I would like to begin interviewing you all,” Twilight said with a warm smile. “Just a few simple questions for posterity’s sake. Any volunteers?”
“As long as it doesn’t involve you blindsiding me with your horn again, I’m game,” Ancro stated, getting up from the ground.
“Excuse me; you hit me and Cadence in the horn!” She growled.
“We can discuss these things later,” he replied. “Lead the way, Miss Sparkle.”

Duo had drawn lots with the nine other changeling praetorians who had succeeded. He took his spot at the rear of the squad he was assigned to, as more lots were drawn by the various commanders to see who would go on the mission. Three decena were needed to go to Canterlot. Since praetorians were extremely flexible, it didn’t matter who drew what lot. Una had told him that. He remembered asking her what praetorians specialize in. Her answer: Whatever the queen asked of them.
Duo’s decena drew one of the Canterlot assignments. He didn’t have to wait to be told which one, since the commander smiled evilly back at him.Having already decided upon how they were going to start their hazing, the other decenas drew Crystal Empire assignments, infiltrating outlying communities where the crystal hearts influence was weaker. The changelings were given their briefing, which consisted of nothing more than go in the front door, kill the praetorians if necessary, aid the other decena in their missions, then leave. The fact that Chrysalis had allowed for the order to aid other decena showed how important this mission was. No need to ask how painful it would be if they failed.
Duo focused on fixing his resolve to the mission at hoof, as they flew through the bleak tunnels of the changeling city. Originally, it had been home to the diamond dogs, but once they had moved on to better and shinier caverns, the changelings had moved in and had since used it as a home while in Equestria. With thousands upon thousands of tunnels carved by the dogs and blasted by the changelings, it was nearly impossible for an intruder to find their way around…or back. His sister had found him once when he had gotten lost down here. Duo’s concentration had not gone unnoticed by the rest of the group. One saw fit to speak up.
“So, you’re the new praetorian,” a voice said from behind Duo. He dared not glance back, focusing his eyes forward rather than looking back into whatever hazing trap had been prepared for him. “Heard your sister is one of the failures we have to kill.” There was malice in the changelings voice. “I wonder who will get that dubious honor.”
There was an emotional spike from the front of the decena. The rest of the changelings in synchronization looked back at the changeling behind Duo. He became extremely quiet, scarcely able to hear the buzzing of his wings. Duo pondered the source of the emotion, before realizing the source was the commander. He heard that they were skilled, able to issue orders on a slight emotional whim, but he didn’t grasp the possible scope of it until then. He also knew from what Una had told him that if you did anger your commander, you would be begging for death for hours before they granted it to you. The ponies called it sadism, enjoying the pain and fear of others. Changelings called it snack.

“I know I agreed, but is all this really necessary?” Ancro asked, as Twilight hooked him up to all manner of equipment. There was a metal helmet with light bulbs, suction cups with wires running to and from them. It didn’t help that they all seemed connected to a giant water wheel that looked like it belonged in the pit of despair.
“Yes it is,” she replied. Ancro knew she didn’t like him, but he couldn’t pin what she was mad at him for. Was hitting a unicorn’s horn that much of an insult/ If so, he needed to apologize to Stigandr.
“Okay,” Ancro said, bowing to her expertise, but still a little skeptical. Twilight wouldn’t do anything to hurt him severely…right? “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s all this for?” If he knew anything from watching the show, it was that Twilight loved to explain things.
“It’s for an experiment to monitor your physical and magical power output upon achieving a multicellular organic shift,” Twilight replied. “The device on your head monitors and records your vital signs as well as your brain waves, so that when you change, I’ll have data to look back on and study.”
“Okey-Doke,” Ancro replied, using context to clues to guess she’s going to watch him shape shift and check the before and after data.
“I’m going to remove your ring,” She said, magicking it off.
“Question!” Ancro asked. He would’ve comically raised his hoof as well, but his hooves were anchored to the ground.
“What?” Twilight replied, setting the ring down. She was clearly expecting him to try something, but her demeanor suggested that she was prepared. The ring had been doing its job of taking all but the bare essential of energy from Ancro, leaving him just enough to shape shift if absolute need be.
“Can any unicorn take the ring off, or does it have to be you?”
“Well, hypothetically, any unicorn could take the ring off you and your friend’s horns, but finding one willing would be an extremely difficult task,” she said. She didn’t have to change her tone for the last part to show her disdain. Ancro could taste it from where he was sitting. “Now I’m going to need you to trans-“
“Like this?” Ancro said, in Twilight’s voice and body. The unicorn was obviously shocked and perturbed that the changeling would take such a blatant form.
“Hey Twi,” Ancro said, feeling the unicorn’s rage. “You need to chill, I figured you would want something you’re familiar with in order to get more accurate results on comparison.” 
“Well that makes sen-“
“Also, I wanted to see if I could tick you off like this.” He smiled with delight, “apparently it does.”
Twilight was doing her best to not hurt the changeling and pass it off as testing his pain threshold. She knew he wasn’t working with Chrysalis. If he had been, he wouldn’t have saved Cadence, he would have Stigandr and Scott under a spell, and he definitely wouldn’t have hindered his own rescue. He was innocent, but still she couldn’t trust him. They still didn’t know who he was working for, and why he had broken into the library looking for a nonexistent book on long-forgotten magic. Celestia had warned her that Luna had been thrown out of all their dreams when she had entered them. Neither of the Princesses knew of anything that could cause that. Three times was more than coincidence. The purple unicorn took a deep breath, and steeled herself for what she knew was going to be a long day.

(Thanks for reading! A big thanks to my editor Sara/artist (shaya.laperro@gmail.com) and to my friends for not complaining about me writing them in such a way. If you have any critiques, criticism, pointers, thrown pottery, or infant sacrifices please leave them in the comments below so they may be collected or addressed later (the scene with Ancro and Twilight went through so many rewrites it’s not even funny). Please if you fav it like it!)

> Interviews, big sister's help, and remorse
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 19

Ancro had been obliged to take the test Twilight performed on him. It would be considered a basic check-up, at least, what he thought one would be like if he didn’t frequently forget to schedule them. The changeling hadn’t minded holding the form for the first thirty minutes. The next fifteen got a bit taxing. He also began to worry when Twilight had begun to run the same test on him again.
“Miss Sparkle?” Ancro asked, in a patient respectful tone as the unicorn took the tongue depressor out of his mouth. The changeling had gotten tired of trolling her, and now was interested in why she was checking his blood pressure again. “I’m getting a bit tired, and that’s the second time you’ve taken my blood pressure.”
“I’m seeing if it changes as you get lower on positive emotional magic gathered from your cohorts,” Twilight said absently.
“Hey, are we alone in here?” Ancro asked, scanning the room. He could’ve sworn that he felt somepony else in the room.
“Yes, we are,” She replied, not looking up from her notes. From what she had learned and put together when profiling Ancro and his friends, it was that he was not stupid enough to try to attack her. He was a bit cautious when cornered, but could easily be moved to take action if the situation proved itself. However, he didn’t have much in long term strategy. If he did attack, it would be to solve the crisis at hoof, and that’s only if he knew he had a chance.
“Can I beg to di-“
“Hey, Twilight! Hi, Ancro!” Pinkie Pie squealed as she popped from nowhere. The action made Twilight jump up and wrap her hooves around the light fixture. Ancro shook his restraints and his Twilight façade fell apart when the pink pony appeared from thin air.
“Hi Pinkie,” Ancro said, regaining his composure a bit faster than Twilight as she teleported herself down from the ceiling. “How have you been?”
“I’m great great great,” she said, as she bounced over to Ancro and stared him eerily in the eyes. “Twilight, have you found out how to tell changelings apart from real ponies yet? 'Cause I saw this one pony who looked real suspicious and was about to accuse them, then I remembered what happened with the MMMM.”
“No, I haven’t,” She replied before elaborating. “No notable changes in blood pressure, heart rate, brain waves, or anything physical while their energy supply depletes.”
“Well I... Drat,” Ancro replied, “guess I can go back to my room now?”
“No silly, Twilight has a whole list of other things for you to do,” Pinkie Pie said. “That’s why I’m here, I was supposed to come here and surprise you, and see if you could detect me.”
“I was expecting her to knock, and not just pop up,” Twilight replied.
“Well, I coulda told you that,” Ancro replied. “Detecting somepony based on their emotions is easy, however exactly pinpointing them can be hard, based on any number of things.”
“Really, like how?” Twilight asked, levitating some parchment and quills over to her.
---
“Dude, I’m bored,” Scott said, after having paced around the cell for the umpteenth time.
“Well, you could always read a bo-“ Stigandr started, then realized he was the only literate member of the group. “Or, we could work out?” Stigandr put a book mark in the book and set it down before hopping off the bed.
“Nah, Stigs,” The griffin said. He didn’t like to work out with him, it made him feel weak seeing Stigandr bury him like that physically. It especially hurt him when he came to Equestria, and realized Ancro was still ahead of him, and realized that unicorns were supposed to be physically the weakest. Also, realizing Ancro’s strength was relative to what form he took. He may have to stop swearing altogether if their little changeling figured out how to transform into that thing the praetorians had become.
“Well Scott, our options are pretty limited.” Stigandr said, “There’s not a lot we can do.”
“How about you teach me to read?” Scott said, out of desperation.
“Scott,” Stigandr said with a pause. “There are no basic books here for you to learn how to read.”
“Baaah!” The griffin scoffed, “We can figure something out. Hey, you want a punching bag right?”
“Yeah, a bit,” Stigandr replied, raising his eyebrow. He knew to be wary when Scott had ideas, and be ready to shoot them down. Not that all his ideas were bad. He sometimes, in fact, had very good ideas, it was just that they needed improvement.
“Then let’s grab one of those down mattresses, a few quilts, and roll it up like a fruit roll up and use it,” Scott said. At first Stigandr was going to worry about damaging stuff that wasn’t his, then he realized something. They could magically fix it in three seconds flat, most likely.
“That’s not a bad  idea, Scott,” The unicorn said, walking over to his bed to get started.
“Wait wait wait,” Scott said, “Let’s use Ancro’s bed.”
“Why?” Stigandr asked, half chuckling.
“It will be a bit of payback for when you all broke into my house,” Scott said. “The wet willy was me getting back at you for doing that.”

Ancro went into every detail he had learned in past few weeks of being a changeling. Some things he glossed over as just being instinctual, and others he danced around because he didn’t even understand them himself. Pinkie Pie would draw out of the blue, comparisons that though insane, made sense, but still they distracted him in the middle of a long spill. So he came up with something to distract her.
“Pinkie,” Ancro said with a smile, getting the ponies attention. The mare looked up at him. “I have a riddle for you.”
“Really, what is it? I love riddles,” She asked, bouncing up and down eagerly.
“How is a raven like a writing desk?” Ancro asked. Other kids had Harry Potter to read, Ancro had Lewis Carroll. The changeling just hoped there was no equestrian comparison that they could read up on and realize it. Pinkie stopped bouncing and sat down, deep in thought. Twilight took this opportunity to keep the conversation going.
“So, how does a changeling find another changeling when they are disguised?” Twilight asked, leaning in close.
“Beats me,” Ancro said, shrugging. He thought back, had he even seen a changeling in disguise to draw a comparison on? All the ones he had seen were out of disguise. As far as he knew, there was no trick to decide who was a changeling and who wasn’t. He thought back to the episode and how the changelings had been tricked while in disguise. That’s when he realized it. “We honestly can’t.”
“You’re joking, right?” Twilight asked. “You mean to tell me you couldn’t pick a changeling in disguise out from a crowd?”
“Maybe the praetorians can, but as for the rest?” Ancro shrugged again, this time it was to mask the fact that he was just as defenseless against a changeling in disguise as everypony else, and frankly it terrified him. “You remember your fight in Canterlot. If the changelings had been able to tell each other apart, would Fluttershy had been able to trick them?”
“…No.” Twilight said, as she came to the realization that Ancro wasn’t lying.
“Maybe if I spent some time around the pony you suspect, I could figure something out,” he said, half sure. “Or ask their friends, family, loved ones if anything unusual has been happening with them. Honestly though, I do not know.”
“Well, you’re a lot of help,” Twilight said, rolling her eyes.
“Thank you, it comes with being perfect,” Ancro said with a smile. “So I’m a bit curious, why isn’t your brother here to make at least mild threats while I joke around with him?”
“He’s on leave,” Twilight said, sounding depressed. “He took some personal time after what happened in the sewers.”
“If beating me up made him fe-“
“He hit Cadence,” Twilight spat, with almost tangible effort. “While he was attacking you, she tried to get him off you, and he turned and hit her. I don’t know what to think, or what to do, or if I should talk to him or what.” Ancro sat there and politely nodded, and listened. He was used to having people back on earth spill their guts to him, even if he barely knew them. For example, he was taking someone’s order at Burger King once. He ended up hearing their entire life story. Ancro was just glad that it was a slow day. Hearing stuff like that cheered him up for some reason.
“Hey, I’ll help you any way I can,” Ancro said with a warm, friendly smile. Yes, he liked to troll, but would bend over backwards for people at the end of the day. “First, I’m going to need a few things.”

Shining Armor had spent his second day off walking through the sculpture garden. He kept wracking his mind looking for a way to make things right. Nothing could. He had failed with what his cutie mark had stood for, his oath to protect the princesses and, worst of all, his oath to protect his wife. Twilight had explained once during her studies that time travel spells could only be used to cause events that have already happened. Meaning you cannot change the past, only cause it. Even if he could change it, he doubted that it would alleviate his guilt.
He wanted to blame Ancro so much, but he knew that it wasn’t the changeling’s fault. Ancro’s magic was weak and he couldn’t even fight back. The changeling was already unconscious. Why didn’t he surrender, why did he fight? If he hadn’t fought back, none of this would’ve happened. 'Yes, it would’ve,' a voice in the back of his head told himself. ‘You wanted to hurt Ancro. You believed him to be responsible for killing several of the prison guards... Kidnapping your wife and endangering your sister.’ Shining Armor shook his head. He couldn’t possibly be trying to justify losing control like that, could he? That’s not what royal guards do, especially the captain... For however much longer he held the title.
He knew both Celestia and Luna were disappointed. He felt as though his every action and move was closely scrutinized by everypony, like they were told to report back the second that he seemed unfit for command. He honestly didn’t care. He found some light humor in wondering who the princesses would replace him with. The he looked up and saw her on the balcony. He wanted to die then and there. Her eye was still black. It looked like she had been crying. He hoped she hadn’t seen him, and pointed his head at the ground and kept walking.

Ancro was skipping a bit as he was escorted back to his room by Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and several of their armored friends with affinities for the sharp and pointy. He had the mild headache that typically came with overload, but that didn’t kill his mood. He had front row tickets as Pinkie Pie made futile guesses at the riddle. Under her breath of course, she wasn’t going to spoil the riddle by blindly guessing until she got it right. ‘Good luck’, Ancro thought. He wasn’t sure how long it would keep her occupied, but watching her struggle was pretty funny. It even got Twilight interested.
“So, what is the answer to the riddle?” Twilight asked, as they neared the heavily guarded doors.
“Spoilers,” Ancro replied with a teasing tone. The changeling adjusted his ensemble. Pinkie Pie was the greatest gift-giver ever. “How do I look?”
“Like an annoying changeling,” Twilight responded, a hint of her past ire towards him returning. He had gotten absolutely no love from her, and only a smidgen from Pinkie. He assumed that this would pass.
“Funny, I thought I was perfect,” Ancro said in a tone that you couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or serious. It made Twilight want to buck him into a wall. Pinkie Pie was too busy drawing a venn diagram to notice. “Pinkie, wait out here please?”
To everypony’s surprise, there was a distant nod as she stared intently at her diagram. For a moment, Ancro was worried that he had broken her. Twilight opened the door, and Ancro made the brief journey through the light, after Twilight had already gone through. He was so excited, he had a major surprise for his friends.
“What in the name of Celestia are you doing?” Twilight shouted, as she tried to make sense of the scene in front of her. Ancro followed through, and he had to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
It looked someone had exploded a flock of geese. White feathers lay everywhere. He watched as Scott and Stigs desperately tried to restuff the mattress.
“Yeah, keep laughing Ancro, this is your mattress,” Scott sneered. Ancro calmly walked over to Scott and put a hoof on his shoulder.
“No, my fine feathered friend,” Ancro said with a smile on his face and light blue fez on his head, “It’s yours.” The changeling bolted to the door to the griffon’s room.
“Oh, like hell,” Scott roared as he took off after the changeling.

“They do this often?” Twilight asked, as the sounds of a struggle permeated through the walls.
“Not as often as Ancro would like,” Stigandr said. “Ancro usually goes out of his way to get Scott a bit riled up. So he’ll actually do something.”
“What about you?” She asked, “Does he try to get under your skin?”
“A few times, yeah,” Stigandr chuckled, “one time when we were hanging out, I was taking a quiz and asked out loud, ‘what is your reaction to being slapped in the face?’ Ancro came up and slapped me in the face.”
“So, what was your reaction?” Twilight asked curiously.
“Almost decked him,” Stigs stated. “So I’m guessing you’re going to want to interview me now, right?”
“Well, if you don’t mind.” She had to speak over Scott’s naturally loud voice and his prolific swearing. “Personally. I’d rather deal with you than Scott.” 

“Wait, Ancro, wait, wait, wait!” Scott said, his voice turning into more of a shrill shriek as the changeling punched the griffon repeatedly in the kidneys. Ancro could take a joke, hence why he had been holding the griffon’s bed hostage, and wasn’t going to steal it or destroy it.  But then Scott had to take it one step further. He took his fez and was holding it out of reach of the changeling. In order to keep his prize, he had to dart around the room trying to stay one step ahead of Ancro. Finally, when Ancro caught him, he tucked the hat up close to him and curled into a ball.
Instead of being rational and trying to wrestle the hat back through his wings and legs, the changeling opted instead to take some kidney shots at the griffon, until Scott at last yielded the hat. Ancro turned around to leave, but found himself pounced upon by the griffon and the brawl began again.
“We need to be even!” Scott whined, as he tried to land a punch on Ancro.
“We are!” Ancro argued, as they tumbled around. “You destroyed my bed and stole my fez, I punch you in the kidneys several times.” Finally Ancro got Scott off of him, “besides, I heal quickly, you cannot really do much to me.”
“I’ll find a way,” Scott said, with a menacing smile. The response to which, was Ancro just made the head motion to roll his eyes... Since his eyes had no visible pupils. Ancro walked into his room and found the mattress had been fixed. Ancro smacked himself for forgetting it was a quick fix with magic. There was also a note written and left by the door that led out of the room. Ancro picked it up the set it down. “Damn it Stigs, I can’t read cursive. Scott come in here!”
“What is it? I’m making sure I don’t pee red blood from those punches!” The griffon shouted back. Ancro face-hoofed, the easiest way for Scott to get back at him was to go into too much detail. The changeling waited until he heard the flush, then passed the note to Scott when he walked into the room. Judging by the look of relief on his face, he was intending to help Ancro clean up. The changeling gave Scott the one word explanation, then handed him the note.
“Ancro, I can’t read pony,” Scott said as he looked at the note.
“Well, damn.” Ancro said, “Guess he went to get interviewed.”
There was a pause after that statement. “So, you don’t miss your family?” Scott asked, much to Ancro’s surprise.
“Of course I do,” Ancro replied. “As I’m sure Stigandr misses his, and I know you miss yours... Why else would you want to leave a veritable Utopia?”
“Well dude, from what I’ve seen it’s not that perfect,” Scott replied. “Besides, it’s from a little girls' show!”
“I said veritable, meaning it’s nearly perfect.” Ancro replied, “besides, we don’t know how time is passing here compared to earth. It could be at the same rate, double time, or half time. There’s no way of knowing.”
“Well, so far you're 0-2 on theories.” Scott replied, “We didn’t break the universe when we met the mane 6, and we weren’t able to find the book.”
“Oh!” Ancro exclaimed, “I completely forgot to mention that.”
“Mention what?” The griffin said, raising his eyebrow.
“There is no such magic,” Ancro said plainly, “Celestia told me herself it has been lost since the days of Discord.”
Scott gave this a few moments thought, then spoke up nervously. “Ancro, according to that logic, then our only way home is by…”
“I know.” Ancro said, feeling as though a weight was on his shoulders.
“Can’t we, you know, like, trick him?” Scott said earnestly, after noticing his friends depression. Ancro felt that Scott was genuinely trying to help.
“Discord is a lot of things... Sadistic, insane, arrogant, but he is not stupid. Not by a long shot.” Ancro said, “The first thing he would do, would be to either send us home, or kill us.” Scott’s gulp was audible as he quickly scrapped whatever plan he was thinking of. He may want to get home, but he wasn’t going to sell out anyone or... *sigh*... anypony, to do it. Besides, as Ancro said, the place was very near to Utopia.

The thirty praetorians made camp at the base of the mountain that supported the city of Canterlot. There, they waited, disciplined and patient, for the next night to come when they would carry out their plans. It followed the same principle of all the other changeling plans. Steal an identity, complete the mission, tie up loose ends, if necessary. Often times, that was the most fun they had. This time though, time was a factor and it had frustrated several of the praetorians.
Duo sat around the green fire as praetorians from the other decena swapped stories. He heard stories about praetorians leaving families dead, broken, insane. To him, it was not unnatural to hear the stories of a changeling who had relished in destroying a family or somepony’s confidence. This was all natural to him. What wasn’t, though, was the level with which his fellow praetorians had turned it into an art. His now deceased friend used to tell a story about how he left a young mare psychologically broken after he had impersonated her long lost father. These put that story to shame. The changeling that had mentioned Una before they left the city told one of how, after months of impersonating a father, took the family down to the cellar to see the real father trapped in a cocoon. He then told in graphic detail about how he tortured the family, starting with the foals, leaving them alive only long enough to see the look on their faces when they realized that they had become orphans. He said it was the best dessert ever. Duo continued to gather mental fortitude for what he knew would be his hazing. He had seen the commander looking over from his meeting with the other two decena leaders. The commander’s all too present smile told him what he had known since his assignment. 
He was going to have to kill his sister. Not that he wanted to. His sister had been the one to have him make the final nudge and join the praetorians. Even his family’s history within the praetorians, and the perks hadn’t been enough for him to take the plunge. She encouraged him, she didn’t lie, told him it would be brutal, but the power and the privilege far outweighed the risks. The station their parents possessed was proof enough of that. He walked into the barracks that afternoon.
Initiates died in training duels, sometimes. They were killed outside of training by a changeling who didn’t want to risk losing to them in a fair fight. It was expected, in a real fight anything goes. So why not carry it over during the whole five months of training? It made perfect sense, toughened them up, you never knew who you could trust. The important rule was to not get caught. He honestly expected his friend to try something similar to that, rather than face him in a fair fight. He had actually begun to wish he had. 
He froze; remorse wasn’t something changelings felt often, especially praetorians. He glanced around nervously, hoping none of his compatriots had felt it. If they had, they didn’t show it or didn’t care, or they knew what they were about to do to him was far worse. If he failed, what they would do would be worse than he could ever imagine in his deepest nightmares.
---
Firecracker had come back to the café again. The meal she had yesterday was great, and she had to admit the pegasus that flirted with her was kind of cute. Even though she was sure the only reason he was flirting with her, was because she looked like Spitfire and wanted a tip. She chuckled to herself. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened.
Specs felt her brother's nervousness as Firecracker walked into the restaurant. “Do you want some help?” She finally asked, knowing he would never ask himself.
“Please,” he whimpered. “I have no idea what I’m doing!”
“Fine, just calm down before you break your façade,” she replied. She put her hoof on her chin in thought. Then an idea came to her. “Hey, she looks a lot like Spitfire right?”
“Yeah, but she hates to be reminded of that,” 
“Well, what if the real Spitfire happened to walk into the restaurant as well,” she replied, “and you were kind enough to be the only one that calmed down everypony, freaking out about changelings and such.”
“Yeah, but why would the real Spitfire-“ Shift then put together the rest of her plan. “Do you think it will work?”
“One way to find out,” she shrugged, before walking up to one of the other changelings and telling them what was about to happen.

(Thanks to Sara for doing the title and editing (shaya.laperro@gmail.com) Sorry about the delay. Between school and my dad’s car wreck (He’s doing much better, still going to be in the hospital for at least two more weeks.) I’ve been very busy. As usual feedback is always appreciated and if you fav it like it. I’m also going to be posting revised chapters no major changes just going to be covering some minor plot holes. Also been busy writing a story for a contest.)

> Dates, Eye's of chaos, roles
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 20

“So you don’t know?” Pinkie Pie asked the raven that stood perched on Fluttershy’s back as they walked through Canterlot. “I guess I’ll have to ask a writing desk then.”
“Ummm…Pinkie,” Fluttershy said speaking barely above a whisper. “I don’t think you can ask a writing desk a question like that, or at all.”
“Don’t worry Fluttershy,” The pink pony said, “Ancro thinks he stumped me with a riddle I’ll show him. Oh look its Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy smiled softly at her friend’s constantly switching moods.
“Hi Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie yelled at the streak in the sky, “Me and Fluttershy were going to get lunch! Do you want to come?”
“I don’t think she heard you,” Fluttershy said causing Pinkie Pie to shout even louder.
Rainbow Dash stopped midflight and looked down at the bouncing pink dot. She knew Pinkie Pie was waving her down but she couldn’t hear from where she was. She performed a perfect summersault and dived down to where the Pink Pony was waiting.
Pinkie Pie hadn’t seen this and had actually started to reach for something behind her back. When Fluttershy saw it she dove for cover and put her hooves up against her ears. Rainbow Dash didn’t see it and kept her dive going. Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and shouted through the megaphone at the same time as Dash had completed her dive. The end result was Pinkie Pie shouting directly into the rainbow pony’s ear.
“Oops sorry,” Pinkie Pie said to the deafened mare, “want to get some lunch?”

“Rahrity, what in tarnation are you doing?” Applejack asked.
“I’m making an outfit, of course,” She smiled, “Pinkie asked me if I could whip together a fez for the changeling since he had offered to help Twilight and honestly it’s not like he’ll be able to escape because of it.”
“Alright, that still doesn’t explain why you are making him an outfit,” Applejack asked, “I mean isn’t he a bit responsible for Cadence and Shining Armor’s y’know…”
“A little bit yes,” She replied, “but we need his help to find the other changelings in Canterlot, besides he had at least one changeling that was with him when he got away from Twilight.”
“So you’re makin him an outfit to go with his fez?”
“Uh-huh,” Rarity said as she began to sow the pattern together.
“Hoping that him ahnd his friend’s will be more willing to help us and not run the first chance they get?”
“I know it seems a bit far-fetched,” Rarity replied, and then saw Applejack’s face, “Alright a lot far-fetched, but he is offering to help, I figured the least I could do was to make him an outfit.”
“You got a point there Rahrity,” Applejack said conceding. “But are we sure we can trust his friend’s? I mean they lied to us already and-”
“I know Applejack and believe me it does bother me to no end,” Rarity replied as she focused on her work. “That those two tricked us like that, even if it was to help out their friend.”
“Ah s’ppose,” She replied then thought about it. “Ah guess that we’d all do the same fer each other.” Applejack started to walk out of the room then paused in place.
“Wait, when did you get his measurements,” Applejack asked suspiciously.
“Oh come on now Applejack, we both know tha-“ Rarity quit the excuse and immediately gave her the details, “From Pinkie, she got them from Twilight when she was giving the examination, we first became good friends at Twilight’s first slumber party,” Applejack still looked at her suspiciously, “A tree fell into the bedroom.”
“Sorry ‘bout that,” Applejack said, “It’s jus-“
“What’s your brother’s name,” Rarity replied.
“Big Macintosh,”
“What did Spike steal from your tree’s when he hit dragon puberty,”
“The leaves,” Applejack replied, “If it wasn’t for you and Twilight’s magic we never woulda gotten them back on.”
“You don’t need to be tossing around accusations like that darling,” Rarity said driving her point home.
“Yeah, as I was saying sorry about that,” Applejack replied when she realized how awkward that the questions had made the situation. “So ya’ hear Bluebloods in the palace?”
“Yes I’ve heard,” Rarity said, “As long as he stays out of my way it will be perfectly fine, bad enough had to put up with him when I was christening that blimp.”
“Say what now?”
“Long story,” Rarity said to dismiss the subject.
“Alrighty,” Applejack replied, “I guess I’ll get them some apple pies together fer them.”

Discord watched through the dimensional in-between at Earth. He spent some time viewing the various governments of the world. He was somewhat disappointed to see the autocracies and empires gone. The world had succumbed to boredom. Politic wise at least gone were the insane mercury and lead drinkers that made this world so fun. With the exception of North Korea, a brief glimpse through the internet said that their last two deceased rulers were crazier than this one. Accept that they hadn’t threatened a power that could wipe them out in an instant. Truly technology had outdone itself with some of the new toys they had come up with.
While the majority of the world’s leaders may have gotten dull the populace hadn’t. They had become extremely creative especially on the internet. All the information ranging from history to art to porn, he knew humanity had a thing for sex but wow the sheer amount of it was mindboggling. Then there was 4chan. He didn’t know exactly what to say to or about 4chan other than what he would love to do with internet access.
‘Speaking of porn’ Discord thought as he browsed various brony sites. He wished he could keep some of the Fluttershy and Twilight stories, they were a good laugh. He nearly died of laughter when he read a ship fic on him and Celestia. Like he could ever date her, she was eons too young for him…and would be a bad influence on his daughter. Thinking of which he may want to go check up on her. Ever so carefully he started the slow process of working his way out of the in-between.

Screwball stood at the center of the alter a complex pattern drawn around the circular rock. She stood there perfectly still her eyes focused to a terrifying degree. Even after her father appeared she didn’t budge.
Discord’s shadow floated in silence watching his daughter focus in. He wished he had a pen to draw on her. It would be so funny when she finally came back to reality.
While Screwball appeared to be staring off into space. She was in fact looking deep into the very reality of the universe. A very difficult task that once begun only the one who started it would be able to end it. Actually once Discord thought about it there were alternative ways to end it, none of them could be called pleasant or what one would use on their own daughter.
“Daddy,” Screwball said in a distant voice. “Do humans have magic?”
“No Screwball they don’t,” He said with a hint of disdain. “They have technology. Why do you ask?”
“Daddy,” She said again, “While you were gone something came and peered into our world from theirs it came at the same time you left and left when you came back.”
Discord chuckled reassuringly to his frightened daughter, “Do not worry about him. He’s an old friend.”
“Could he have sent them daddy?” Screwball asked steadily working her way out of the trance.
“No,” Discord said flatly. If the draconquess didn’t have the power to bring something through dimensions than neither did he, this bothered him because there was only one other who could use magic like that and he could never interfere. Never. “Well this is a startling development.”
“Is there anything else you need me to do daddy?” Screwball said completely coming out of the trance and back to the world. She wanted so hard to help her father out of the stone and to spend time with him. She was ‘born’ during his last reign or Equestria. She had went to go to the bathroom when she had come back everything was so different and orderly. “Please?”
Discord’s shadow put his lion paw on his chin in thought. He had spent so little time with his daughter. Now it felt like he was just using her. He knew that she would be useful in the next phase of his plan. “Screwball my dear,” Discord said, “I need you to head north to the Crystal Empire. Things are going to become very chaotic up there.”
“Sure thing daddy!” Screwball said with a salute before floating northwards that unusual train like noise fading into the distance with her.
‘Soon my dear daughter soon,’ Discord thought as his daughter left. He extended his talon and snapped himself to the unicorn’s room. Best to get Stigandr off his back before he followed through on his threat.

The three mares had been walking through Canterlot looking for a café that was within their budget to eat. In retrospect they could’ve gone back to palace but the food there was so upper class. Also Blueblood was back in town and would be there. So everypony had wanted to spend as much time out of the palace as possible. So far nopony had told Rarity. Celestia also suggested that going on a walk may help them clear their heads and come up with a solution. Rainbow Dash had asked why they didn’t just use the elements of harmony. Celestia had explained that those were only for the direst of circumstances and as much as it worried her it wasn’t the direst.
They finally came to a restaurant with what appeared to be within their budget from the prices of the specials they had on the chalk board outside. That’s not what made the restaurant stand out. What made it stand out was the massive crowd that stood outside
“Whoa what’s up with the crowd at this place?” Rainbow Dash asked as they approached a restaurant. Surely the deals couldn’t be that good?
“Spitfire’s in there,” One of the ponies at the back of the crowd said. “I hope she’ll autograph this picture.”
“Well if this place is good enough for Spitfire it’s good enough for me.” Rainbow Dash said darting in without waiting for Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy’s opinions.

Shift was to put it bluntly impressed by his sister’s impersonation of Spitfire. She had everything down pat her behavior was terrifyingly spot-on. He would’ve bought her for the real thing if he didn’t know for a fact that Spitfire was practicing for her upcoming show he would’ve been fooled.
Firecracker tried to make herself as small and unnoticed as possible in the corner. On the list of things she needed to get done today being trapped in a restaurant with a bunch of Spitfire fans and Spitfire was low on her priorities. She just hope no pony did anything stupid and-
“Oops sorry!” said a rainbow maned pony as she got bumped into Firecrackers table and knocked over her drink. There was a brief moment in which they made eye contact. Firecracker hoped that that would be it and the pony would get on with her day maybe order something and get the hoof print from Spitfire and ignore her.
Rainbow Dash had been bumped back by fans. As Spitfire gingerly gave out hoof prints while in between glancing at her menu. As far as she could tell Spitfire hadn’t even seen her. She bumped into somepony’s table and spilled her drink everywhere. She quickly apologized then looked at who she was apologizing too.
Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie worked their way through the crowd led by a green pegasus who seemed extremely eager to get on to other orders. Fluttershy, loving the Prench theme of the restaurant immediately gave the pony her order and then waited patiently on Pinkie Pie. The Pink pony sat and stared at the menu for a few seconds trying to make heads or tails of what anything was. That was when a ruckus was heard in the corner.

“I’m leaving I do not have to put up with this.” Firecracker said trying to walk away from Rainbow Dash. She knew who she was, element of loyalty, winner of best young flyer, can perform sonic rainbooms, and apparently extremely brash and arrogant.
“Not so fast,” Rainbow Dash said putting a hoof on Firecracker’s shoulder to keep her in place. “You’re not going anywhere until the guard gets here.”
“I am a guard.” Firecracker growled for what felt like the fifteenth time. She tried to move again.
“Then you won’t mind waiting for somepony to come and verify that would you?” Rainbow Dash firmly placed her hoof on Firecracker’s shoulder.
“Do you want to keep that hoof?” She said meeting Rainbow Dash’s gaze unflinching, “You’ve got until the count of three. One, Two.”
“Excuse me ma’am,” Said a male voice from behind Rainbow Dash. “Is this pony bothering you?”
“Not really,” Rainbow Dash said, “But could you go and get some of the gua-“
“Ma’am with all due respect I wasn’t talking to you,” Shift said, “I was talking to Firecracker. She’s a customer and a member of the Equestrian guard. Now Firecracker, is this pony bothering you?”
Rainbow Dash shrunk down and blushed. She hadn’t felt this embarrassed in years. It didn’t help that everypony was looking at her as well causing her to turn an even deeper shade of red. Shift could taste the embarrassment of the cyan pony. It was salty sweet although her apparent pride made it all the sweeter.
“Wow, now that is what I call a mirror image.” Spitfire said appearing through the crowd apparently the pegasus idolized the stunt pony. It was the only explanation for the increase in embarrassment. ‘Go ahead Specs,’ Shift thought, ‘Keep pouring it on.’ It was all he could do to prevent from licking his lips as the embarrassment piled on. “You stayin out of trouble Dash?” Shift made a double take before realize the pony in front of him was Rainbow Dash. The Rainbow Dash who performs sonic rainbooms at will and the element of loyalty and who kicked his sister’s flank. He wanted to hit himself for not realizing it sooner.
“Pretty good, been keeping busy.” Rainbow Dash said a bit sheepishly. She was still a little star struck around Spitfire despite having met her three times and saved her life once. She still felt like she was talking to a big shot.
Shift watched as his sister chatted up Rainbow Dash. He had to admire his sister’s control. After the beating Rainbow Dash laid down on her during the invasion. He had always known Specs to hold a grudge yet there was no sign of one anywhere not even in her emotional undertones it genuinely felt like Spitfire was meeting with a friend. Shift wracked his mind and remembered that Rainbow Dash had spent time at the Wonderbolt academy and had even saved Spitfire’s life before. So it made sense that they would be on friendly terms with each other. Shift had a new found respect for her sister and her attention to minor details. He’d have to study up harder when impersonating a pony in the future.
Steadily the crowd either got something to eat or left after getting their autograph and picture with Spitfire. Eventually that all died down too until all that was left Firecracker, Spitfire, and three of the elements of harmony. Several of the changelings had a wary eye out for any signs of the party cannon. Granted you couldn’t tell from external but internally they were all keeping track of how many steps it takes to get out the door. Finally the rest of the ponies left until it was just Firecracker.
“Hey it’s Shift right?” Firecracker said. Shift nodded cooly. “Thanks for helping me out back there, you probably kept Rainbow Dash out of the hospital.”
“Not a problem.” Shift replied. The realized she was giving him an opening, “Hey do you wanna go and do something sometime?”
“Really like what?”
“Well ironically all that comes to mind is that Wonderbolts show that’s coming up,” Shift replied smiling goofily while rubbing one of his hooves through his mane.
“Y’know after meeting her, Spitfire’s not that bad,” She said in reply. “I’m sure I could put up with a Wonderbolts’ show.
“So is that a-“
“A yes,” Firecracker replied trying not to laugh at the green pegasus. “I’ll be by tomorrow around four.”
“Okay I’ll see you then.” He said as she walked out the restaurant and flew off. Then something unexpected happen Spitfire ran into the restaurant. Barging in just as the closed sign went up.
“I’m so sorry I’m late Shift,” Spitfire or actually Specs said gasping for air. “You will not believe the day I’ve had.”
Shift stood stock still and speechless his jaw hitting the floor his pupils dilated and he fell on his side. He should’ve known that his sister’s impression was too good to be true. There was no way the rest of the staff was going to believe this.

“…Well it’s nice to know why you were in such a hurry to learn teleportation spells.” Twilight spoke up trying to ease the tension.
“Yeah sorry we had to leave in such a hurry.”
“So how long has your friend had these delusions of perfection?”
“Well he’s been saying he’s perfect for a while now, but honestly he doesn’t believe it.” Stigandr replied,.
“But why does he say it?”
“Beats me,” Stigandr replied with a shrug. “Honestly half the time I don’t try to understand or act surprised when he says something shocking or disturbing.”
“Disturbing?” Twilight replied, “I’d put that in with Scott.”
“No Scott just doesn’t know when to stop talking,” Stigandr pointed out. “Ancro knows when too he just likes to see if he can push you any further.”
“While we’re on that subject; why are you friend’s with Scott?” Twilight asked. The sandy brown unicorn shrugged.
“In all honesty we’ve sat down and tried to figure out how it all works, why we all hang out how we get along so well.” Stigandr said, “In all honesty we’re just as lost as you. The best we can come up with is that Scott provides us with some direction otherwise Ancro and I would sit around and do nothing. However Scott is horrible at planning and typically it needs us to do the ironing out. Ancro is an excellent short term thinker he gets places and can often notice things that get by the rest of us as well as remembering small details of a conversation. Sometimes he tries to make us take note as well sometimes we pick up on it. Other times we don’t.”
“So what does that make you?” Twilight replied.
“In all honesty I’m probably the thing that prevents those two from destroying stuff.” Stigandr chuckled, “Honestly Ancro believes in winning despite the costs and Scott while he is extremely smart,” Stigandr defended mentally noting all the times he recalled small details about an airplane or its purpose or what made it unique and superior to the predecessor, “he doesn’t think long term enough and can often burn bridges.” He noted the time Scott threatened the staff of the financial aid office…by saying he was going to come back with a chainsaw, “Which is odd because when he wants to be he is very charismatic and extremely likeable. He just has the maturity of five year old.”
“I’ve noticed that,” Twilight agreed before coming up with the analogous role of the unicorn. “So you are kind of like their moral compass?”
“Yep,” Stigandr said, “That’s exactly what they say, that I’m the moral compass of the triumvirate.”
“The triumvirate?”
“Yeah, it’s a name Scott came up with one night when he was drunk, at least I think he was drunk,” Stigandr thought. “He may have just been excited.”
“For some reason him being drunk doesn’t seem that farfetched,” Twilight replied rolling her eyes.
“The sad part is he’s a lightweight.” Stigandr laughed, “He’s drunk in with half what it takes Ancro and me.”
“Really I thought griffins were supposed to have a fairly strong tolerance?” Twilight was eager she was getting more than she had expected from Stigandr. Yes she expected him to talk but she wasn’t expecting a full on profile from him.
“That makes him the exception to the rule.” Stigandr said with a smile.
“I guess it does,” She said smiling, “I’m a bit curious about talking to you though; you’ve painted a picture of your friends but not yourself really, you’ve painted your role in the group but not what you do.”
“Okay?” Stigandr said, “What do you want me to talk about?”
“Well for starters what’s your cutie mark mean?” She asked pointing to the crossed pugil sticks. “I recognize them from when I visited my brother for his graduation they’re called pugil sticks if I remember correctly.”
“Right you are Miss Sparkle,” Stigandr said trying to come up with a lie. He didn’t want to lie to her but still he didn’t want her to know that his talent was to adapt and overcome. He really didn’t want her to figure out that he was starting to overcome the ring. “It’s for aggression, I’m talented with more aggressive magic.”
“Interesting,” Twilight replied writing it down on her parchment. “Out of curiosity why didn’t you join the guard?”
That actually touched a bit of a nerve on the brown unicorn having spent ten months at Parris Island before they dropped him for medical reasons. He still wanted to go back. “I would’ve loved to but I had some breathing problems and they wouldn’t let me in.”
“Wow, I’m sorry to hear that.” Twilight spoke up after a few moments of silence. She was a bit surprised at the drop in tone for him. “Well it seems you’ve gotten over whatever your problem was. Maybe you could join in the future?”
“Maybe,” Stigandr said distantly.
“Ancro didn’t really have much time to tell you this before antagonizing Scott but he agreed to help me.” Twilight said earning a raised eyebrow from the unicorn.
“O’reily?” Stigandr replied. “Well then I guess I’ll help you in any way I can as well.”

“Hey Ancro,” Scott asked as the changeling shadow boxed. He had managed to talk Scott into helping move the mirror out of the bathroom and into his bedroom for that purpose. “How do you counter an Earth pony buck?”
Ancro stopped mid-kick. Apparently changelings had a pretty good sense of balance allowing them to be more bipedal than ponies. All it took to keep from falling over was the occasional buzz of his wings. “Watch for when they wind up and side step inwards.”
“So don’t get close like with a haymaker?” Scott asked. Remembering what the changeling had told him about them back on Earth. Good for a knockout blow but took you a lot of time to get ready, everyone saw it coming, and useless when you were in too close.
“Definitely don’t get close like with a haymaker.” Ancro stopped before laughing at the unwitting pun. Scott didn’t get it at first, “Scott, haymaker.”
The griffin laughed after Ancro elaborated on the joke. Then ruined it by explaining it, “It’s funny ‘cause they eat hay.”
“Yes Scott I know. I made the joke.” Ancro said rolling his eyes. “Want to practice on me?”
“Sure why not?” Ancro got in position and bucked Scott in the chest. The griffin stumbled back a bit before falling on his rear. “Could you wait until I’m ready?!”
“Sorry I assumed you were.” Ancro replied. Then he waited for Scott to actually be ready. After the griffin confirmed they practiced the move and any potential improvements to it that could be made. After about four minutes Scott lost apparent interest in the exercise and sat down.
“So have you come up with a way out of here?” Scott asked after a little bit.
Ancro stopped what he was doing, “Right now?” Ancro asked raising his eyebrow towards the griffin. Scott nodded in confirmation. “Our only real option is to cooperate with them.”
“Wow that sounds pleasant.” Scott replied his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Actually won’t be that bad,” Ancro replied switching to a more analytical tone, “At the very least it would let them see us in a different light and might get us some freedom or an opportunity to escape. However if we do escape then if they catch us again we are screwed.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Scott said smirking, “I was told I could leave anytime I want.”
“So you’d abandon me and Stigandr,” Ancro replied eyeing the griffin, “or would you be coming up with some clever plan to get us out?”
“I have a plan,” He said defensively.
“Really,” Ancro asked entertaining his friend. He had a bit of a sadistic streak in him and did love shooting holes in Scott’s plans to a degree. It was actually kind of fun.
Then the griffin, without missing a beat said, “I was going to kidnap Fluttershy and hold her hostage.”
Ancro was utterly speechless. Not because of what he said but the terrifying tactical sense of it. Yes he knew Scott was joking he could tell it from the emotions he was getting from the griffin. Still it terrified him to know extent that that plan could conceivably work. If you cut out the psychological damage done to poor Fluttershy and the resulting fallout from her friends, what Rainbow Dash would do to them if they didn’t get away or Rarity. Why did the image her wearing a headdress made of griffin feathers come to mind?
“Scott,” Ancro said after balancing risk and reward then remembering he already agreed to help them. “Don’t ever say that again. Besides, I already agreed to help.”
“What,” The griffin snapped, “Don’t you think you should’ve talked about it with us too?”
“I know Stigs would’ve been all for it.” 
“Ancro,” Scott said, “You pissed off those changelings and they have an entire army and at least one spy at their disposal.”
“Yeah…so?”
“Dude,” Scott practically shrieked, “That’s like a painting a bull’s-eye on your back!”
“Wow,” Ancro said in mild surprise, “I didn’t think about that.”
“If I may interrupt this discussion,” Discord said as he slithered into the room. “I have some news.” The shadow looked around, “Where’ Stigandr?”
“He’s being interviewed by Twilight.” Ancro spoke up glad for the distraction.
“Oh well,” Discord said, “I guess I’ll tell you two then.”
“Tell us what?” Scott said. Ancro didn’t speak because he was too busy investigating Discord’s shadow. It looked more defined and concrete then it had before. The implications of what that meant relieved and terrified him.
“Well you all were sent here from your own plane.” Discord said. Scott seemed to readily except it Ancro was busy tumbling around with theories and causes in his head.
“How?” Ancro choked out, everything from the LHC to Cthulhu cult bouncing around in his head.
“I don’t know I wasn’t there.” Discord shrugged. “Still that holds up my end of the bargain with your unicorn friend, until he decides to use me for more errands.”
“In all honesty he probably will so it’ll be good for you to check up on us every so often.” Ancro said smirking. “I can’t come up with anything right now though. What about you Scott.”
“Can you bring me a cat?” Scott asked the shadow. Discord’s jaw dropped while Ancro tilted his head slightly while his eyes twitched.
“Scott, that would reveal Discord’s presence if a cat magically appeared inside the cell.” Ancro said defeating the urge to beat his head against the wall.
“What if it’s one of those umm crap,” Scott looked over to his friend, “what’s the name of the cat from Alice in Wonderland, the one that disappears and crap?”
“A Cheshire Cat.” Ancrro replied and began to beat his head against the wall. He loved Scott like brother and would risk his life for him. However asking a god of chaos for a cat was something that had transcended anything he had ever expected from the griffin.
“I’m afraid we don’t have those here but I’ll gladly keep it in mind.” Discord replied dryly before vanishing from the room.
“Scott,” Ancro said rubbing his hoof on his face, “You just gave the god of chaos a required reading list.”

(Feedback of any kind is appreciated. Leave it in the comments below or message me. Editing and artwork done by my wonderful friend Sara for commissions email her at shaya.laperro@gmail.com. A big thanks to my friends for not minding me writing about them in this manner. Please if you fav it like it. Not sure how long on the next chapter sine my dad may or may not be coming home from the hospital tomorrow (life is full of uncertainties like that), I’m redoubling my efforts to find a job (my bank account is starting to evaporate) and college is taking up a lot of time (Surprisingly English isn’t my best subject). Don’t worry I’m not going to hit the hiatus button just keeping you all informed that there may be delays.)

> Deals, Prison, Pancakes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chapter 21

Duo had infiltrated the prison while the rest of the decena waited outside. The other two deceni went to the palace to fulfill their respective missions: Coltnap Shining Armor and kill the traitor. He had been sent in as part of what had been called by his superior the “junior rule.” The new praetorians get all the grunt work and suicide missions.

Getting into the prison wasn’t easy. The ponies had increased security since the last report, operating in pairs and detaining anypony that was by themselves.  They had disabled one of the changelings key advantages, shape shifting. Still, that was only one weapon within the arsenal of the praetorians. Silently, he snuck into the prison, remembering when he and his friend had to prove their own stealth talents by sneaking into the Praetorian’s barracks. Duo believed it was an important part of training. His friend had believed it was only a means for the superiors to find more creative ways to torment the recruits. He shook the distracting memories from his head, pressing onwards into the elevated shack that was the warden’s office.
Once in the office he cautiously looked around for his objective, the duty roster. He was so eager in his search that he had forgotten just how lucky he was to have found the office uninhabited. Duo lifted his head from one of the file cabinets as he felt two authoritative and proud presences approach the office.
“So it’s that easy to intimidate the inmates?” asked one voice as they approached the door and the doorknob started to turn.
“You have no idea how intimidating griffins in armor are to ponies,” said the other one. This voice was decidedly tougher and older. However, his was also more tired, if just a bit relieved. He opened the door before continuing. In a fraction of a second Duo dove under the desk. The changeling knew he could take both griffins but the noise would raise an alarm and even if he did make it out of the prison he knew he wouldn’t survive his fellow praetorians. There was bit of sadness with the old griffin as he walked into the office.
“Hey old timer, you getting second thoughts about retirement?” the younger griffin mocked.
“Nah just spent a lot of time in this office,” the older griffin said, “Thirty years to be exact, can’t help but feel I’m leaving an old friend behind.”
“Don’t get all nostalgic on me, Lawrence,” the younger griffin said, “You did a good job and left quite a wingspan to fill. Maybe now you’ll have time to work on that book of yours?”
“Yeah maybe,” Lawerence said. Duo never understood griffin nomenclature. “But before I go,” the griffin said, “I may as well sign the last duty roster.” There was the sound of scribbling. “Not gonna lie, your next few weeks are going to be busy keeping everything in order. We have one quarter of the guards in maximum security guarding the sleeping changelings.”
“In all honesty, I’m surprised that Celestia hasn’t tried to get a dragon in there to guard them.”
“Given what they are capable of, I’m not entirely sure that’s a bad idea.” Lawrence said with a hint of warning in his voice. Duo had a brief moment of terror when he imagined if the ponies would go that far. One of the griffins began to walk towards the desk.
“How about you leave that here and we get to that party that the ponies totally hadn’t planned for you.” The younger replacement chuckled. There was the sound of something being placed on the desk and the door closed. Duo took a sigh of relief as the presences moved away from the door and steadily out of his reach.
Duo considered stealing the roster. Then he realized it in all likelihood, raise suspicion if it somehow went missing. The goal of the mission was to silently kill the captured praetorians. Duo took a deep breath and set to work writing down the names of the ponies that would be stationed in maximum security. It was quite a list. Duo really hoped they would be at that party for a long time. He had been warned that griffins were notoriously noisy to kill.
****
Ancro and Scott had waited up until Stigandr had returned from his interview with Twilight. Ancro took this time see if he could miraculously master reading. He couldn’t. Scott took this time to do a bit of working out.
“Alright, so I’ll be by to get you guys first thing in the morning.” Twilight said through a yawn. “I really appreciate you all agreeing to help. I’m sure the princesses will appreciate it as well.” Twilight shut the door behind her.
“Wow, if I wasn’t feeling her emotions I would think that she was using political leverage or something along those lines.” Ancro said, unable to come up with the words on account of being tired. That, and he wasn’t a night person. He hadn’t even been a night person on Earth. Yeah, he’d stay up late, but he didn’t do anything or go to parties. He honestly preferred a good nights sleep.
“Oh Stigs!” Scott said, remembering their visit from Discord, “Discord came by.”
“What did he say?” the unicorn replied.
“He has absolutely no clue how we got here or who got us here.” Ancro replied, chuckling. “Also, Scott suggested that he read Alice in Wonderland.”
“I didn’t, I just thought there would be Cheshire Cats in Equestria.” Scott defended, “I mean they have everything else.”
“Scott, they have Greek and European myth,” Stigandr explained, ”not nineteenth century literature.”
“At least you didn’t tell him about Lovecraft,” Ancro said, half mocking, half comforting his friend, “I would rather fight a Jabberwocky then a Shoggoth.”
“Getting back on topic,” Stigandr said, “Discord claims he has no idea how we got here. So pretty much.”
“We got nothing,” Ancro finished smiling, “looks like we are here until further notice.”
“Or we could break Discord out.” Scott added smiling nervously. Stigandr casually walked over and hit the griffin on the back of his head. He knew it probably wouldn’t do any good. Still, it never hurt to try. "Just kidding!”
“And on that bombshell it’s time for bed,” Ancro in the best British accent he could make. The Top Gear reference earning a smile from Scott.
“Yeah we need to get our rest. Twilight’s going to talk to the princesses about giving us some level of freedom with which we can operate,” Stigandr said. “Odds are we are going to meet both of them.”
“Outside of our heads this time,” Scott said. “I would much appreciate it if the ponies stayed out of there.”
“Scott, I’m going to take the high road and not pick on you this time and just go to bed,” Ancro chuckled.
“I appreciate it,” Scott replied. “‘Night.”
“‘Night Stigs,” Ancro said before going to his room.
***
“Wake up,” a voice whispered to Specs while she slept. She had a rough day being Spitfire, or at least trying to be her! First she couldn’t find a safe spot to transform. Then every flower vase in Canterlot decided to try to fall on her. After that a pack of dogs decided to chase her halfway to the palace, and that was only the start!

“Wake up,” Lazily she sat up and looked around the room looking for her agitator, satisfied with not seeing or sensing anyling. She rolled over and covered her ears. Someling had to be playing a prank on her. That is the only logical explanation. “Oh for goodness sake, Wake up!”
Specs jumped out of her bed and reflexively went into a defensive fighting position. Eyes still foggy with sleep she spoke out, “I don’t care who you are, I’m going to kick your flank!”
“Highly improbable, I assure.” The voice said forming into the shadow of a mismatched creature.
“Hey I remember you,” She spoke up, “From the prison.”
“Yes, and as you can see,” the figure responded snaking around the small apartment, “You and your brother both got out of there safely.”
“No thanks to you.”
“Why must you insult my honor?” the shadow said while acting as though Specs had stabbed him in the heart, “I lead you to your brother and look what it gets me: no respect, not even an ounce of trust.”
“You expect me to trust you after what you did?” She replied, not buying the overly dramatic act for an instant. “You left me and my brother to fight a praetorian! You led me into a trap!”
“A trap for the praetorian who very easily would’ve killed your brother with a smile on his face,” He countered. “I could’ve very easily left him to his fate and you wondering how much they made him suffer. So you need to remember that you owe me!”
“I don’t owe you anything,” She replied, “I don’t have to do anything for you.”
“Well consider that I can actually hold you and all the changeling refugeeshostage,” He replied. “It would be a terrible shame if anything were to happen to any them. Like a flower pot falling on your head, or it being extremely difficult to find a place to transform, or, for instance, if a pack of dogs start chasing you like you are made of dog food.”
“That was you?” She replied her horn charging.
“Please blast away, it’s not like there’s a big scare about changelings right now,” The shadow replied. Her horn’s glow died and she glared at him. “Now then, I’m going to need a few errands.”
“Like what?” Specs knew she was going to have to do everything he told her to do. She couldn’t risk her brother or the other changelings’ safety. After seeing what he did in the laundry room, revealing all the deserters didn’t seem that far a stretch.
“Now I distinctly remember you mentioning something to Ancro about teaching him changeling stuff,” The shadow said pacing back and forth.
“Don’t worry,” Specs said, “I had no intention of teaching him. Besides he’s dead, with the rage I was feeling from Shining Armor.”
“Au contraire mon petit métamorphe,” The shadow said. How could she see him grinning? “Ancro is alive and well and I want you to train him.”
“What!” Specs was completely taken back by this request. “He’s got to be surrounded by dozens of guards!”
“Well I have a lot invested in those three and would much rather not see them torn limb from limb by the praetorians coming to do that.” The shadow was bending over her. It was then that she realized that the shadow wasn’t cast on the wall but was in fact standing on the floor.
“Let me get this straight. You want me to sneak into the most heavily guarded anti-changeling place in the world and train Ancro, who I hardly know or like, to fight the most ruthless, sadistic changelings Chrysalis can muster.”
“You act like that was supposed to sway my opinion in some way,” the shadow replied. “You have one week in which to get it done.”
“That’s impossible!”
“I sometimes believe six impossible things before breakfast,” he replied. “It’s not like you have much choice. It’s either that or I reveal your dear sweet restaurant operation to all of Canterlot. Your only hope then is that the guards save you before the angry mob does too much damage.”
Specs was speechless. This shadow had threatened her and her brother and she couldn’t do anything about it. All she could do was hang her head and nod.
“Now don’t get all sad,” The shadow said trying to cheer her up. Specs was a changeling and knew when someone was going to switch it around. “I have a plan and all it will take is for you to get a bit of blood on your hooves.”
“Who’s?” Specs replied.
“Just some pony scientist who has been studying changelings,” Discord replied, “It won’t be that messy. She’ll go into the restaurant in the morning; you’ll be able to recognize the microscope cutie mark.”
“Fine,” Specs resigned.
“Oh if it’s not too much trouble, can you see if you could train Scott as well?” he asked rhetorically, knowing she had no choice but to agree. “Also keep our little arrangement between the two of us, deal?”
“I don’t have much choice, do I?” Specs said.
“That’s the spirit, my little pawn,” the shadow said clapping his front limbs together. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and set up the rest of the board.
***
Celestia’s horn had ceased to glow as she completed her final duty and lowered the sun. It had been a tiresome day and she hadn’t accomplish the most important tasks she had wanted to. Namely talk with Shining Armor. He had been sulking for too long. He needed to understand that Cadence was ready to forgive him. He wasn’t willing to forgive himself.
“Sister,” Luna said. Celestia snapped out of her thoughts and stared at her sister. “You are sitting in my throne.”
“Oh I’m sorry I was just-”
“Distracted?” Luna finished, “Do you wish to go on a walk and talk about it?”
“No Luna I’m fine. It has just been a taxing day,” Celestia said.
“Sister, we both know that is not all that is weighing on your mind,” the dark blue alicorn said. “Have you been trying to make sense of the changeling and his friend’s actions?”
“Partly,” She replied, “Also the changelings worry me. The ones we have in the prison haven’t spoken a word since their capture.”
“Also, you miss our teacher,” Luna said, levitating a book from behind her back. “I remember when this portrait was made. It was the night before he disappeared.”
“Ancro asked several questions about him and the history of Equestria,” Celestia replied levitating the picture back into the book.
“What did he wish to know about Starswirl?” Luna asked.
“How powerful he was,” Celestia said, remembering back to when she grasped the sheer scope of his power. Back when Discord reigned.
“What was his reaction?” Luna asked with a smile. 
“Awestruck,” Celestia said with a smile.
Luna couldn’t help but chuckle. Very few ponies had the grasp of just how powerful Starswirl had been. In all honesty, they wouldn’t have been able to use the Elements of Harmony, much less defeat Discord, without his aid. He had been the one to tell them about the Elements of Harmony and had sent them on their quest.
“Sister you must get some rest on this evening,” Luna said, “I will guard the night.”
“Thank you Luna, but I assure you that I am quite alright.”
“Tia, that mask you wear for our little ponies will fool them but not me,” Luna replied. “You must rest.”
“Yes Luna, perhaps you are right,” Celestia replied, “I do need to go to bed.”
“Good night sister,” Luna said with a smile as her sister went off to her chambers.
***
“I can’t believe we ran into Spitfire today,” Pinkie Pie proclaimed as she bounced back into the palace, her two friends behind her. “I mean what were the odds that she would be getting lunch at the same time at the same restaurant as us.”
“You want to talk about odds?” Rainbow Dash replied, “What are the odds that a pony who is in the Royal Guard looks exactly like Spitfire?!”
“Yeah she did look an awful lot like her,” Pinkie Pie said then stifled a giggle. “I’m just glad I’m not the one who called her a changeling.”
“Now Pinkie Pie, don’t be so hard on Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy piped up before smiling, “It’s not like she wanted to make a scene with everypony watching her.”
“Wow you guys are some real friends.” The cyan mare replied with a roll of her eyes. “Let’s not tell all of Canterlot about this, okay?”
At that time Pinkie Pie started to ramble about how she wasn’t going to tell everypony in Canterlot. Just some and their closest friends of course. It was about the time that Pinkie Pie had really started to get her mouth running up to speed that Twilight had walked up to them. Twilight noticed that Pinkie Pie was rambling.
“So Pinkie Pie, have you figured out that riddle yet?” Twilight asked, mostly out of her own curiosity. Ancro’s riddle hadn’t appeared in any of the books or stories that she had read, making her believe it was entirely original!
Pinkie Pie stopped mid word her mouth hanging agape. She jumped up into the air, legs flailing wildly before running off. Leaving Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy to cough in her dust.
“What was that about?” Rainbow Dash asked. Before Twilight or Fluttershy could explain Rainbow Dash picked up a small pink note from the ground and read it aloud. “Dear Dashey, if you are wondering why I ran off it was because I forgot that I need to ask a writing desk a question.
“Uhh anypony want to explain?”
“Ancro asked Pinkie Pie a riddle and it’s been driving her a bit crazy, well, crazier at least,” Twilight said, “I’ve actually been a bit intrigued as well.”
“Wow you and Pinkie stumped by a riddle?” Rainbow Dash said, impressed. “I didn’t think a changeling would be smart enough to stump you two.”
“Ancro’s fairly clever,” she replied as her friends started to follow her, “Which is why I’m feeling a bit nervous about what I’m about asking the Princesses to give them some room with which they can help us.”
“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Twilight please don’t say what I think you’re saying.” Fluttershy spoke up in a shaky voice.
“Ancro and Stigandr agreed to help us. Stigandr said he could guarantee Scott’s help,” she explained, omitting the bit about how little he’d be able to give. “That’s a griffin and a pony that have lived with a changeling for years and a changeling helping us.”
“How do we know that they aren’t planning to try to escape first chance they get?” Rainbow Dash said.
“They are dangerous Twilight. Maybe you could find a spell?” Fluttershy murmured. “Or something else?”
“Yeah Twilight after what he did to your brother-”
“Yes I know!” Twilight shouted, “I know what happened. I’ve been told it a thousand times, but there’s not much other choice. If I had another option I’d take it! There are changelings in Canterlot and Ancro said he’d help us find them. He saved Cadence from being captured by the changelings. Yes, he attacked me and her later, but that was to save another changeling who wasn’t with the ones who attacked Cadence.” She took a deep breath and held back tears. The whole situation had been stressful and chaotic. Convincing Celestia not to store them in the prison had proven difficult enough. Now she had to convince her to let them out and ontop of everything else, ponies kept reminding her of the situation with her brother and Cadence.
She felt a wing on her shoulder. “It’ll be okay Twilight,” Fluttershy said her voice brimming with sympathy.
“Yeah sorry,” Rainbow Dash said. “We forgot you are under a lot of stress. You’re right, we don’t have a lot of options. Make sure his friends know that if they try to break out they’ll have me to deal with.”
“I’ll be sure the Triumvirate knows.” Twilight laughed.
“The who?”
“The Triumvirate, it’s what they call themselves.” Twilight said.
“Yeah, well it doesn’t matter what they call themselves,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, “I can still take them.”
Twilight explained what she knew about them and what she had uncovered, which admittedly wasn’t much. Still her friends listened to her all the way to the throne room.
***
Twilight had thought that she would be meeting with Celestia. To be honest, she should’ve seen it coming. This was a major decision and the sun had just set. Twilight took a deep breath and told them her plan and the agreement she came to with Ancro and Stigandr.
“What of the griffin, Scott?” Luna spoke up. “He is a member of this Triumvirate as well. Did you not confer with him as well?”
“No princess but Scott is, well, a bit...” Twilight struggled to put the words gently.
“Of an obnoxious jerk.” Rainbow Dash finished bluntly. “Also he’s scared of clouds.”
“Scared of clouds?” Luna asked. “I have never heard of a griffin who was scared of clouds.”
“Yeah he just kinda freaked out when my door hit him in the face.” Rainbow Dash said. Luna raised her eyebrow expressing her curiosity. “Pinkie Pie and I found him in a field. It looked like he was about to have break down.”
“That is quite unusual.” Luna said. Ancro’s apparent fear of spiders was understandable  to some degree. She didn’t understand it, but apparently other ponies were afraid of the arachnids as well. Personally, she found them cute. A griffin who was afraid of clouds, though, that was something unheard of. “Very well, you will have my support as long as they are under the watch of at least five guards. They will start by being walked around the palace in the morning.”
“Yes your highness,” Twilight said with a bow. “I promise you they won’t be any trouble.”
“Just to be sure, both Celestia and I shall meet with them in the morning,” Luna said definitively. 
***
Two decena encircled the palace. They were waiting patiently for their chance to take the place of some unsuspecting guards. The changelings would have to observe them, preferring to take the place of the ones who lived in the palace barracks and not an officer who would return home to a family. If they had more time to study their prey then they would perform the task without a problem and enjoy it. However, they had been given a mere week with which to do this task.
Chrysalis hadn’t said a week. The praetorians merely had to regain some lost honor from the failure of the other decena, so the commanders had set a goal. They would strike at Shining Armor and the traitorous Ancro and, if necessary, his friends within one week. Some of the praetorians had actually imagined the fates for the friends or the traitor if they were fortunate enough to get a hold of them. It would be delicious to feed on their pain and fear as they watched their friend being torn to pieces. Some of them still held the belief that they were under the control of the changeling, even though their spy reported that it they seemed to willingly be with the changeling. It didn’t confuse or bother the changelings, all it meant was potentially more targets and more to feed on if they caught them.
***
The next morning, Stigandr had woken up Ancro who in turn woke up Scott. Scott was a light sleeper that morning so Ancro didn’t get to do anything to mess with him. Scott wanted to know what Ancro planned to do. The changeling left after claiming Scott was paranoid for even considering that Ancro, one of his best friends, would ever try to wake him up in a harmful or embarrassing way. Scott pressed the issue until his friend was out of the room.
“Hey Ancro,” Scott asked as he walked into his friend’s room. “I have a question for you.”
“Alright, shoot,” Ancro said.
“Let’s say we went into the Marvel universe, with our powers.”
“Yes Scott?” Ancro asked already having some idea where this was going.
“Could we take on the Avengers?”
“Depends, movie or comic?” Ancro asked.
“Both.”
“In the movie if we get the drop on them we could conceivably take everyone besides Thor and Hulk.” Ancro said visualizing taking out Stark before he got his armor on and using magic to overpower Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. When it came to Hulk and Thor, though, the only thing that would happen would be bad and painful. If Bruce Banner had tried to kill himself and Hulk spat out the bullet what the heck could they do?
“And comics?”
“Similar count until someone realizes we are attacking Avengers, then we get stomped. Comic book Avengers have a lot bigger team.”
“Okay what about the Justice League? Isn’t Superman vulnerable to magic?”
“Yes but Green Lantern, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, and Hawkgirl aren’t.” Ancro sat down and thought about how they could do it. “We’d have to take out Batman, get the kryptonite from his utility belt and ambush Superman. Manhunter is vulnerable to fire, so if I hit him it’s a maybe. After that we are screwed.”
“Are you guys talking about breaking out of here?” Stigandr said, walking into the room. He had heard talking and Ancro saying things like stomped and screwed. He had assumed Scott was trying to get Ancro to come up with a plan or Ancro was trying to come up with a plan just because.
“No we’re discussing if we had to fight the Justice League or the Avengers.”
“I’m pretty sure we’d just get our butts kicked by any of the other members that outclassed or ganged up on us.” Stigandr said, “Green Lantern alone would turn us inside out.”
There was a knock on the door. In walked Twilight with two plates of food and guards, lots and lots of guards. All equipped with their various sharp and pointy objects.
“Sweet pancakes!” Ancro proclaimed running over and grabbing a plate of the syrupy deliciousness.

(Thanks for reading! Any feedback or comments are always appreciated. I'd like to thank my editors who put up with my atrocious grammar and butchery of the English language. Thanks to my friends for inspiring the characters of the Triumvirate (though technically it's a quadrumvirate now.) My dad is back from the hospital and is currently driving me absolutely insane. If you like it fav it. Artwork still by Sara (shaya.laperro@gmail.com))
> Breakfast, Deportation, and Surprise Parties
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 22


“May I have more syrup?” Scott asked Twilight while he dug into his pancakes. “And some chocolate chips and some butter.” The unicorn levitated some from a basket she had with her. She brought enough to sate even Pinkie Pie’s sweet tooth. “Yeah, that’s not going to be enough.”
Ancro looked at Twilight and flatly said, “What Scott means to ask is if you have a spell that will put him into a diabetic coma.” Ancro took note that the ponies apparently had diabetes, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to say that. An image of the old guy from the diabetes commercials all ponified popped into his mind.
“I’m sorry, no. I don’t know of any spells like that,” Twilight answered with a slight chuckle. Then she observed Ancro shuffle back and forth between Scott and Stigandr for a few moments. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to find a happy medium,” Ancro answered inching towards Stigandr, “It’s the only way I can taste anything other than emotions.”
“Interesting, I didn’t know changelings didn’t have a sense of taste like that,” Twilight said, “It makes sense, though, eating isn’t truly a necessity for your species.”
“Yeah, but nothing beats the taste of fresh pancakes.” Ancro replied craning his neck ever so slightly. It felt like he was trying to get cell reception in a dead zone. Finally finding a spot where it wasn’t too sweet or not sweet enough. “The problem is I have to balance between diabetic coma over there,” he gestured to Scott, “and everything’s too sweet over here.” He gestured to the unicorn who was now softly laughing between bites.
“So Twilight, I assume that these gentlestallions are going to be our chaperones as we roam the palace?” Stigandr asked when he finished his breakfast.
“Yes, they are going to escort you at all times while you all are out of your cell,” Twilight said. “Also could you all hurry up? The princesses would like to meet with all three of you.”
“Y’know I just realized that I didn’t get interviewed.” Scott said pointedly. He felt Ancro’s holed hoof upon his shoulder. Twilight tried to think of something to say to the griffin but Ancro beat her to it with a smart remark.
“Scott, in all likelihood there’s a reason for that. And if you look deep inside of you, I’m sure you’ll find it,” Ancro answered in a tone unmistakable for anything but sarcasm.
Scott responded by laughing at the joke made at his expense extremely loudly, causing Ancro to flinch back and consciously press his ears against his head to try to lessen the noise.
“Alright are we ready to go?” Stigandr asked Twilight.
Twilight nodded then asked, “What about them?”
“What about them?” Stigandr asked. “They’ll be fine, that’s what the guards are here for. Then they can catch up when they’re done goofing off.”
Twilight looked at the other two. Scott had stopped eating his pancakes. The griffin was standing wobbly, proving that he didn’t have the constitution of Pinkie Pie when it came to sweets. Ancro was doing his best to strike up a conversation with a guard. Stigandr seemed all too eager to get on with it.
“Alright, if you three are ready,” Twilight said, “I’ll lead you to the throne room.”
---
The maid was walking through the halls to her next destination. She was expecting it to be an uneventful day of spying as well as preparing for the praetorians. She was sure that they would contact her and give her a time for when not to be here. While being told that this was a surgical strike had been assuring, she still had no desire to be here and risk getting hit in the crossfire.
“Wow it’s great to see the sun again,” said the unmistakable voice of a changeling. She as well felt the presence of several others surrounding the ponies. “I’m thinking about getting a tan. Do you think I could pull it off?” The voice asked one of the presences. The spy felt a spike in agitation and looked around a corner to see what was going on. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
Walking down the hall was a unicorn, a griffin, and a changeling. The changeling and unicorn had rings around their horn. All three were escorted by the at least fifteen guards as well as the Element of Magic herself Twilight Sparkle.
For a moment she thought that all three of them were being taken to be executed or moved. That was until she realized if that were the case the guards would have an emotion other than irritation. Curiously she followed the group, being passed off as nothing more than a maid doing her job.

A job she had gotten quite good at. Her natural aptitude  for noticing small details had actually catapulted her into a favorable spot amongst the palace staff. Originally she had been wary of being in the spotlight, not wanting to catch anypony’s attention, or their ire. Imagine her shock when instead of bitterness they had given her congratulations as well as a pay raise . At least to them she was a ‘friend’ as nice as the job was, it wouldn’t compare to breaking her façade and terrorizing her annoying coworkers.
After following for some time she realized where they were being taken. She was hesitant to go any closer to the throne room though. Both princesses were in there and she wasn’t competent  enough in her blocks to be able to work without giving something away. The two alicorns behind those doors were terrifyingly powerful. In raw power one of them could easily outclass Chrysalis. Her victory had been a fluke and every changeling knew it.
---
Ancro hated himself. His need for one-upmanship against Stigandr had come around to bite him on the flank. He was standing an inch ahead of his friend and right on the precipice of his tolerance against the massive powers that stood in front of him. The worst part was that the pain was causing lapses in his concentration. So he couldn’t really understand what Luna was saying. Yet if he moved back he would feel like he was tying with Stigandr and he couldn’t have that. Was it petty? Yes. Was it stupid? Of course! Was he going to do the smart, rational thing and move back to avoid a colossal migraine? No. He was also a bit worried that if he budged an inch the guards would test out their spears on them. Apparently you make one off hoof comment about Blueblood being upper royalty and the guards emotions go from mild annoyance to a deep desire to harm the changeling that made the joke.
Celestia noticed Ancro’s distress from her seat across the throne room. It was slight twitches in his face, the eyes blinking more often, and other barely noticeable details. She wanted to ask him to step back. Yet a part of her wanted to see how far he would go. She still didn’t know why the changeling was intentionally harming himself. The unicorn with the pugil stick cutie mark, Stigandr if she was correct, stood calm and collected absorbing everything that was being said to him. Scott the griffin looked slightly terrified, especially as Luna got around to the punishments for breaking the extremely strict and sadly necessary rules.
Stigandr took keen note on every detail of every word Luna had said.  If they broke these rules they would be imprisoned again. This time not in the cozy five star resort they had been having the pleasure of staying. She said in no uncertain terms that at the first sign of an attempt to escape or to endanger any of her ponies it wouldn’t end well. Stigs groaned internally, not sure if Ancro would try to press her buttons or if he should be more worried about Scott. Luna said she could have him deported and that was not something he wanted to happen to his friend. As far as the show had gotten with the griffins he knew nothing other than they were proud to the point of arrogance.
Scott was more than a bit terrified. If what Ancro and Stigandr had said about them to be true these were two ponies that you absolutely didn’t want to screw with when they were in a bad mood, like right now. He had the feeling that being chewed out by a pony R. Lee Ermy would be less terrifying. At least he had the courtesy to threaten you to your face. Luna was threatening him in all the subtle terrifying ways that he would expect a lawyer or a politician to throw at him. She also apparently could have him deported. He really hoped she didn’t send him to the moon. As great a team Stigandr and Ancro were, without him as the catalyst nothing would ever get accomplished. Seriously, without him neither of them would ever leave their house and they’d die of boredom or Minecraft. Besides, he really didn’t want to get sent to the moon.
Luna read her prepared speech to the Triumvirate that stood before her. While she recited she observed every movement they made to see if her speech was having its desired effect. Ancro was in obvious pain but out of either pride or defiance refused to step back or really show it. She doubted his friend’s had picked up on it because he was containing it so well. Stigandr seemed to be the model of a royal guard. When they had first captured him, Luna had sent out for the records of anypony named Stigandr with the matching description and cutie mark. So far nothing had turned up. While it was unusual for it to take so long she had expected it. Equestria had grown larger in her thousand year absence and she was still adjusting. If any of them were easy to read it was Scott and that was only because nervousness doesn’t suit a griffin. She had a feeling that if Scott wasn’t nervous about meeting royalty or possibly being deported then he wouldn’t betray a thing. The princess wouldn’t push the issue of who they work for or where they were from. Their willingness to help had made her believe one of her theories: that they were mercenaries. She still had no idea why somepony would be looking for a book on long nonexistent magic. Luna decided to focus on the crisis at hoof and find the changeling spies before looking for some mysterious book enthusiast.
“Does the Triumvirate have any questions?” She asked, finishing her speech. There was a hint of shock amongst the group. Very few people back on Earth had called them that.
“So to surmise,” Ancro started. Celestia recognized that was the smile he had before he said something smart-alecky. “We put a hoof or claw one inch out of line I go to deepest darkest pit, Stigandr gets twenty years, and Scott gets deported?”
“I doubt your friend’s punishment would be as severe as twenty years in prison.” She replied, “And yes Scott would be deported. It is part of our deal with the griffins if any of their kind cause too much trouble we may send them back by force for more severe punishment. I do not know if your friend told you this, Ancro, but griffin punishments are extremely severe for the subjects who embarrass their nation abroad. ”
“No, somehow it slipped his mind,” Ancro said and shot his increasingly terrified looking friend a glance to try to be somewhat comforting. He felt genuinely guilty about it. He was the one who noticed the small details and hadn’t realized that griffins, in all likelihood, had their own nation with their own laws.
---
“I’m so excited, sis,” Shift said as he caught up to her. They were unusually busy this morning. Most wrote it off to Spitfire having showed up yesterday. It had been great for business. “I actually have a date!”
“I know, you’ve told me and every changeling and customer.” Specs replied.
“Yeah, it’s just that,” Shift replied nervously kicking his hooves, “I’ve never had a date before.”
“Don’t be nervous little brother, you’ll do fine,” Specs reassured. “Just don’t screw anything up and you’ll get a great meal.”
“Hey guys!” One of their coworkers said, interrupting the siblings. “We are absolutely swamped. Septus had to run and get more potatoes for hash browns and we need you both out there.”
The siblings hurried back to work. Shift balancing trays on his metamorphosed wings, an impossible task without pegasi like dexterity, and Specs using her magic. Specs had nearly forgotten about her deal with her visitor last night. She had actually hoped it had all been a dream. He had said that she would be by in the morning and as the restaurant died down she hadn’t seen mane or hoof of the pony. Specs breathed a sigh of relief as she levitated the breakfast menu down, confident it was all a dream. Besides, it’s not like she could kill somepony who wasn’t here. The shadow wouldn’t punish the other deserters because the mare had failed to show up, right? The bell above the door ringed and somepony walked in.
“I’m sorry but are you all still serving breakfast?” The mare asked. The unicorn that walked in had a red coat and blue eyes that complimented her yellow mane.
The changeling was about to tell her ‘no’ when she caught a glimpse of her cutie mark. Specs glanced over and saw the microscope cutie mark. The changeling sighed, the least she could do was get the mare her last breakfast. She sat her in what she thought to be the most beautiful part of the restaurant. Then Specs began planning how to make this look like an accident.
---
Discord watched as Cadence slowly ate her breakfast. Well, not really eat. It was more along the lines of spread it around on your plate to make it look as such. It was the act of somepony who wanted everypony to think she was fine. She seriously could’ve used some lessons in lying because everything else gave it away.

He had been very careful to keep her and Shining Armor wallowing. Shining Armor hadn’t been that hard. His calling was to defend ponies and if he viewed himself as a threat to his own wife, the mare he loved and swore to protect. All he had to do was keep everypony busy with what they perceived to be the problem at hoof and ignoring the lovers quarrel.
The unnoticed shadow swirled out of Princess’s room and into the throne room. He needed to catch the last of the deal Luna was laying out for them to make sure there were not any changes that would alter his plan. As he heard her rattle it off the draconequus smiled. If you could count on Luna for one thing, it was a heavy hoofed response. He watched the Triumvirate’s expressions become more worried when she got to the punishment aspect of the deal.
He briefly considered going inside one of their heads and bothering them but decided against it. ‘Best not to push my luck’ though Discord. Given their predicament they may turn him in if he pushed the wrong buttons. No matter how necessary he may be for their return home. Having seen all he needed to see in the throne room he departed. He needed to help Shining Armor with his sulking.
---
Shining Armor walked through the Canterlot Sculpture gardens. He considered trying to get lost in the maze, maybe it would help him clear his mind and figure out what he was supposed to do. He knew he had to apologize but wasn’t sure how or even if he could. Now he learned that Ancro and his friends had agreed to aid his sister find the changelings. He knew Ancro didn’t work for Chrysalis or any changelings. He still didn’t trust them or know who they worked for. He trusted the princesses’ judgment. 
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a black shape dart into the maze. Shining Armor followed the shape through the thick hedgerows. Erring on the side of caution he charged his horn, not sure what to expect. He took a deep breath and went around the corner and saw the black figure continue on through the maze.
Discord continued steering Shining Armor through the maze, keeping him away from any prying eyes. He needed him to be absolutely alone in order to do more damage to his already shaky mind and confidence. After several twists, turns, and double backs to make sure the unicorn would be good and lost, they reached their destination: a fountain. One of the several that occupied the maze, but Discord chose this one partly because of its location,  partly because it was the largest, and partly because of the sentimental value it possessed, being where Shining Armor proposed to Cadence.
Shining Armor rummaged around in the garden avoiding the fountain at all costs. Whether it was conscious or subconscious Discord didn’t know or particularly care. What he did care about was giving the unicorn a deep feeling of self-loathing. He needed to keep Shining Armor wallowing long enough for the changelings to capture him and break him. He wished that he had more power, so he could drain the unicorn of his virtue. This whole setting the board, while fun, was monotonous.
---
“So, Twilight where do we begin?” Stigandr asked as they walked out of the throne room. Scott was still visibly shaken with the prospect of being deported. Stigandr was sure that wouldn’t happen if they just buckle down and helped out.
“Well, we’ll start with a tour of the palace. Then I’d like to get some more readings from you as you’re transformed. Then I’d like it if you all would help me construct a profile of the changeling.”
The maid couldn’t believe her ears. The changeling was going to help the ponies! That cowardly traitor, if the praetorians weren’t going to kill him at the end of the week than she would do it now, with much pleasure. At least she would if she knew she could get away with it. Fifteen guards surrounded him, and she valued her life far too much. Even if she was successful she wouldn’t dare take the joy from the praetorians. The lovely sadists would use her instead. The spy chose the wiser course of action deciding to watch and report. Who knows? Maybe it would propel the praetorians into acting sooner.
“Does a history lesson come with the tour?” Ancro asked, comically raising a hoof. Ancro was as sure as Stignadr. But he had to stop being a smart aleck, which was difficult because it was his coping mechanism. He felt like if he so much as said a single word to cross the princesses, it would be the end. The changeling had noticed Luna didn’t correct him on the deep dark pit part of the statement.
“Ancro,” Scott said putting his talon to his forehead, “we don’t really have time for it.” Ancro tasted that his friend was losing patience. Scott was fretting that if he goofed he’d be stuck in an even more unfamiliar land. He had no idea of griffin culture or what their punishment could be. He could conceivably end up in a gulag for all he knew.
The TV show didn’t give the palace its justice. It was far larger and unimaginably grander. Scott was rendered speechless with some of the architecture and the intricacies of the decorative stone and metal work. Occasionally the three friends would get a brief pause to stop and admire the work that must’ve been poured into this construction. You didn’t need to be an empath to tell that the ponies constructed the palace as a gift four . Somewhere between the first ballroom and the fifth hall of mirrors they came to the realization that this palace was built as a labor of love by the ponies for their princesses.
“Wow,” Ancro said out loud as they approached the fifth ballroom. “I never really knew how big this place is.”
“Yes, what you see on the outside is roughly a fourth of the palace.” Twilight said preparing to magic the doors open. “The rest is built into Canterlot Mountain.”
Scott was about to raise a talon and ask but then realized the answer to how it would still be so bright was right in front of him and may require a San check. Magic. That however didn’t explain why this ballroom was so dark. However Ancro could detect presences in there and informed their tour guide.
“There’s something in there,” Ancro spoke up looking into the darkness of the ballroom.
The guards immediately became more alert. Ancro hadn’t even noticed that they had started to slack off. Twilight lowered her head and lit up her horn. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah between three and four,” Ancro said, “I’d be able to tell more accurately if this ring wasn’t on my horn, and if they weren’t so clumped together.”
“I’m not removing it until you are not a threat.” Twilight replied flatly.
“Wasn’t asking you too,” Ancro responded.
“Hey if you’re done flirting with the pony,” Scott said sarcastically. Twilight felt the urge to vomit and as Ancro felt it as well, it stacked with his own. Ancro wanted to hit Scott…hard…with a brick. He was a brony but not that type of brony. “I think that’s a room that needs investigating.”
“Good idea,” Stigandr said, “Scott you’re on point.”
“Why am I on point?”
“Scott, who’s going to attack a big burly griffin?” Ancro replied, purposely trying to insult his friend. In actuality Scott hadn’t been particularly muscular since he had his hernia. Even then it had been an 1800’s boxer muscular not a bodybuilder or martial artist muscular.
“How about the guards take care of this,” Twilight said, inserting reason into their fun. As she spoke the five guards that had been guarding Ancro rushed past him and a purple bubble engulfed him.  The remaining guards began eyeing Scott and Stigandr cautiously.
“Insurance?” Ancro asked experimentally tapping the bubble. Twilight nodded, “I have a feeling you don’t trust me.”
“You hit me and my sister-in-law in the horns to help a changeling escape.” Twilight replied, “I wonder whatever could’ve caused it.”
---
“Pinkie dear,” Rarity said, craning her neck to keep her horn from poking Fluttershy in the eye, “remind me why we are all in this cake?”
“So that we can surprise Stigandr and Scott and Ancro!” Pinkie replied.
“Ah still don’t know whah we had to be crammed in here so long,” Applejack said trying to keep Pinkie Pie’s tail out of her mouth.  “Feels lahk we been in here fer hours.”
“Three hours fifty-six minutes and twenty-three seconds,” Pinkie Pie said, “and won’t it be worth the wait?”
“When did you even fahnd tahme to bake this cake?” Applejack asked. Finally asking a question she had been pondering for the past four hours.
“I always find time for cakes silly,” Pinkie Pie replied somehow patting the farm pony on her head.
“Pinkie Pie, I think I hear somepony coming.” Fluttershy whispered, and all inside the cake fell silent. They heard hoofsteps approaching the cake. Fluttershy started to speak again but Pinkie Pie cut her off.
“Jump out and yell surprise in three…two…one!” The top of the cake flung itself open and three of the four ponies jumped out. Five guards, shocked that three ponies had jumped out of a mysterious cake in a dark ballroom, immediately pointed their spears at Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack. 
“Pinkie,” Rarity said staring nervously at the spear pointed directly in her face. “This wasn’t your best idea for a surprise party.”
“Oops,” Pinkie Pie said staring very uneasily at the sharp, pointy spear.

(Big thanks to my editors Tuv,Pon Katt, Tsujin Rilauco, Abyx4433. Also got a job after 6 months of unemployment I'm now making sandwiches at Subway, I'll find out tonight if they intend to keep me. Thanks to my artist Sara (shaya.laperro@gmail.com) for doing the cover art. Also thanks to my friends who don't mind me writing about them in this regard. As usual if you fav it like it and feedback is appreciated. If you don't feel comfortable sending me negative feedback through the comments just pm me. Thanks for reading!)
> Pride, Love, Personal Space
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 23


 

                    “Explain yourselves,” one of the guards demanded as an armoured pegasus rushed over to help Fluttershy out of the cake then make sure she didn’t get away.
“No! You explain yourselves for ruining a perfectly good surprise party by not being the ponies we intended to surprise!” Pinkie Pie replied, caring more about the party than the pointy spears being brandished at her and her friends.
“Pinkie Pie please don’t make the guards angry,” Fluttershy whispered to the irate pony, she then addressed the guards, “We were waiting on a friend of ours to come through here.”
                    “Ma’am this is the Royal Palace, not a party hall,” the guard stated. Fluttershy’s ears went flat against her head. “There are changelings on the loose in the palace.”
                    “Yeah we know, we are helping to look for them,” Pinkie Pie replied, bouncing on three legs and waving her hoof around in the air with the fourth. “Twilight and Princess Celestia said we could help, and then we found out that the Triumvirate was helping as well, so we decided to throw a surprise party.”
                    “Pinkie Pie,” Rarity spoke out, gaining the mare’s attention. “I think I might need to handle it from here. Terribly sorry to inconvenience you gentlecolts with this, please allow me to explain.” The guards offered to her an indifferent look that Rarity interpreted for her to continue the explanation. “We were waiting for one of our friends and some companions of hers. You see  the three individuals who are with her are planning to help us find the changeling that’s been spying on everything going on in the palace. This party was merely a way to offer thanks for them agreeing to help.”
                    “Do you mean Twilight Sparkle?” One of the guards enquired. He turned to his subordinate and nodded. The subordinate trotted off and in a few moments the group was able to make out Twilight Sparkle, Scott, Stigandr, ten guards and a small pink bubble. After a few more seconds they made out the shape of a changeling lounging in the bubble.
                    “Don’t worry guys they’re with me,” Twilight assured the guards who finally relaxed if only slightly.
                    “Ma’am until we are sure they are not changelings-”
                    “Well I can say that’s definitely Pinkie Pie,” Ancro said. His layered voice was further altered by the reverberation from the bubble’s walls. He had guessed it wasn’t as stable as the one Shining Armor had used to contain him.
                    “How can you be sure?” Twilight asked recalling that Ancro said changelings couldn’t detect other changelings.
                    “She’s bouncing.” Ancro answered, “You could always give her a Pinkie Sense quiz.”
                    “How do you know about that?” Twilight asked, “And if you know it, wouldn’t it be common knowledge?”
                    “Yes, but knowing it and acting on it are two entirely different things,” Ancro countered, “Besides its not common knowledge amongst the other changelings. At least I think it’s not.”
                    “Alright, I have an idea,” Twilight said with a smile. Ancro noticed Pinkie Pie’s tail was twitching. He soon found out why. The bubble around Ancro vanished and before he could move his wings he hit the ground. Scott and Stigandr laughed and Ancro stuck a hoof straight up to signal that he was okay. The changeling had to admit that it was fairly good prank and he in all likelihood had it coming. Ancro was very careful with getting up. He didn’t want the two guards that flanked him to get the wrong idea.
                    “Well that’s definitely Pinkie Pie,” Stigandr said, “And I’m pretty confident that she would notice if the rest of her friends were changelings.”
                    “I got that thorn out of that Manticore’s paw,” Fluttershy said in a barely audible whisper.
                    “I used my own tail to fix that Sea Serpent’s mustache.”
                    “And Applejack dropped you off that cliff!” Pinkie Pie said. The pink pony had not given the statement any context and all the guards eyes shifted to Applejack. Applejack’s eyes shifted to Pinkie Pie who just stood by oblivious.
                    “Well y’see the cliff was collapsin’ and if I hadn’t let her go she woulda died,” Applejack explained rubbing one of her forelegs through her mane. “It’s a bit of a long story.”
                    “It’s okay,” Twilight said, “I know it’s you. That still doesn’t explain what you all are doing.”
                    “It was a surprise ‘thank you’ party for the Triumvirate, before these guards came along and ruined it.” Pinkie Pie pouted before perking up, “At least it’s still a party!” As if waiting for those words the lights in the ballroom turned on and the music started. 
                    “I didn’t know what music you liked so I picked some of Equestria’s top party songs!” Pinkie Pie shouted to the three friends.
        “I actually prefer symphonic metal,” Ancro said. The changeling could hardly contain his disdain for pop music. “That and-” His mouth stopped working right and no sound came out. He facehoofed. Ponies have symphonic metal but don’t have bluegrass? What was the universe coming too?
              The fifteen guards stood there stoically, keeping their eyes trained on the changeling, unicorn, and griffin in case they tried to take advantage of the situation. The senior officer had started to get fears of a hostage situation forming. Suddenly the music stopped and there was an internal sigh of relief amongst the guards.
---
                    “Where’s the lesbian one?” Scott whispered to Ancro and Stigandr. Twilight was busy trying to talk Pinkie Pie into postponing the party. She seemed to be making some headway after turning down the music.
                    “She’s not a lesbian,” Stigandr answered.
                    “How should I know,” Ancro answered at the same time, “I’ve been here with you the entire time.”
                    “This is true,” Scott said. “So do we have any idea how to find the changelings in the palace?”
                    “Well first thing we should do is narrow down the list. Right now it consists of everypony on the palace staff,” Ancro said.
                    “Which is a lot I take it,” Scott replied somewhat crestfallen at the realization that this wasn’t going to be as easy as he had hoped.
                    “So do changelings have any means to detect each other?” Stigandr asked. “Twilight said you didn’t know any but did you get any funny feelings while we were in the tunnels with those siblings?”
                    “Nothing that I can remember,” Ancro said. “Though with the damage Shining Armor did to me it should be nothing less than a miracle I remember my name.”
                    “Even though you can’t say it?” Scott smiled. It took a second to register but eventually all three members of the Triumvirate were laughing.
                    “Excuse me,” Applejack spoke up, “What are you all laughin’ ‘bout.”
                    “Don’t worry about it Applejack,” Stigandr replied casually, “It’s an inside joke.”
                    “Yall best not be thinkin’ of ways to cause any trouble,” the earth pony said pointedly.
                    “Don’t worry,” Stigandr said, “When I’m around these two will behave.”
                    “Ah’m gonna be blunt Stigandr,” Applejack said, “Ah don’t trust you or yer griffin friend ferther than ah could toss ya. You two used mah friends so that ya’ll could free him,” Ancro suddenly felt singled out. It was a feeling he genuinely didn’t like. “Now ah’m only gonna tell ya this once. If even fer a second ah think any of you are thinkin’ of doing somethin’ sneaky ta break out, ah’ll buck you into the throne room mahself.”
                    “Understood,” Stigandr said. The other two nodded in agreement.
                    After she had walked off to try to explain the situation of why the party needed to be delayed to Pinkie Pie, Ancro turned to Scott and Stigandr and very calmly said, “Please tell me that I’m not the only one who wasn’t terrified by that.”
                    “I was a little frightened, but not that bad,” Scott said.
                    “I agree it may have been a little disconcerting but we can trust Applejack not to judge us unfairly,” Stigandr added.
                    “Guys, Luna didn’t correct me on the deep dark pit part of the statement and we have a potentially aggressive paranoid earth pony watching us,” Ancro responded smiling nervously, “I give that pretty good reason to be terrified.”
                    “Relax we’ll do fine,” Scott said, trying to be comforting. Ancro wanted to tell him that he knew he was just as, if not more, nervous than he was, but decided against it, letting his friend think he was actually helping him.
                    “Yeah, besides I work a bit better when I’m under stress,” Ancro stated before he took a deep breath.
                    “You act like you’re in this by yourself,” Stigandr said putting his hoof on his friend’s back.
                    “Yeah we are all in this together,” Scott said. “Besides Stigandr won’t do well in prison, I mean look at that face! It won’t be long before he’s some big stallion named Bubba’s gets you.”
                    “Scott, odds are the griffins will do far worse things to you,” Stigandr countered, then added, “and they’ll also probably make you like it.”
                    “Also Scott, watch your volume,” Ancro said, “Fluttershy is in earshot.”
---
                    “Name and business.” The guard at the gate ordered.
                    “Umm, yes,” Specs replied more or less in character than anything else. The mare she had replaced had been, if anything, uncertain of herself. “My name is Entomology. I’m here from the school to study the changeling.”
                    The guard looked at her ID, eyeing it suspiciously. With effort, she avoided rolling her eyes. The act was obviously supposed to scare changelings and it may have worked …if she was an infant. After a moment the guard let her pass and directed her to her room, which she was told was down the hall from the changeling’s room. She almost walked off then remembered that she had to stay in character.
                    “Excuse me,” She said to the guard, “Could you help me get to the room?”
                    “Ma’am, I’m not a tour guide. If you get lost ask some of the palace staff for help.” The guard replied flatly.
                    “Oh sorry,” She said in a meek voice before slinking off.
                    “Well played,” the voice whispered inside her head. “You just snuck past a praetorian.“
                    “A decena has infiltrated the palace,” She whispered to the voice.
                    “No, don’t be silly, a whole decena in the palace? That’d be crazy,” the voice replied. Specs let out a sigh of relief. “There are two.”
                    “You are giving me a week to train a changeling, a griffin, and a unicorn to fight against twenty praetorians?!” she thought back to the voice.
                    “Well just a changeling and a griffin. I don’t care much for the Stigandr,” the voice answered flatly. “Besides, you’re up to the challenge, after the way you tricked the other changelings and took care of that unicorn.”
                    Specs didn’t want to be reminded of that. Typically she would’ve much rather preferred to knock her out and store the body somewhere. Whoever was bossing her around scoffed at the idea. At least the pony didn’t die painfully, she had ensured that. All she felt was a little queasy then a quick blow to the back of the head. As well as having the best view in the restaurant, the booth was also the most secluded. All she had to do was edge one of the vases off just enough to make it look like that’s what got her. Then she had to do then was explain the situation to the others . They all agreed the last thing that they needed was an investigation. Begrudgingly they  stored the body in a cocoon in the basement until they could find a more convenient time to dispose of her.
                    “Now don’t be depressed,” the voice said. “It’s not like I’m holding you hostage, just everyling you know.”
                    “If I ever have the chance, I will kill you,” Specs thought to the voice.
                    “That is extremely unlikely,” the voice replied. “And if I were you, I’d be more concerned on finding time and innovative teaching methods.”
---
                    Princess Cadence was out of her room for the first time in days. She still didn’t feel up to it, but she knew that if she didn’t get out of her depression she’d never stop be able to get up. Her eye was still slightly discolored, she hadn’t used magic to fix it, healing spells were never something she was particularly good at. She added going by the palace doctor to her mental list. Then she would find her husband and talk to him. She wasn’t going to try to get an apology she knew he was tormenting himself. No, Cadence was confident that all they had to do was sit down and talk about it.
                    She was surprised when the nurse said that the doctor was out today. Apparently he had been called away. Something about trying to fix a pegasus’ eyes in ponyville. The pony was apparently a special case and all previous attempts to fix her eyes had only been temporary before they  would relapsed. She was assured the doctor would be back by tomorrow. She didn’t want Shining Armor to see her with the bruise he gave her. She’d have to wait until tomorrow, or until she found Twilight. For a moment she thought about going to see Celestia, but she had a lot on her mind already and didn’t want to bother her with this lover’s quarrel.
                    “Excuse me,” Cadence asked one of the guards, “Do you know where I could find Twilight Sparkle?” The alicorn had already been to the guest rooms and hadn’t seen either her sister-in-law or any of her friends.
                    “Twilight’s giving a tour to Scott, Stigandr and their changeling ‘friend’,” Rainbow Dash said before the guard could answer. The pegasus had apparently been looking for Twilight as well. She decided to go back to her room and wait for the unicorn’s return after getting lost in the palace for half an hour.
                    “I’m actually in a bit of a hurry,” Cadence replied. “I don’t really have time to wait.”
                    “Not a problem, I hate waiting too. Between the two of us I’m sure that we’ll find her in no time,” Rainbow Dash declared.
                    “Alright then, lead the way,” Cadence said, feeling a bit cheerful and followed the cyan pegasus down the hall.
---
                    Una felt a familiar presence. It made her smile to know that her brother had made it into the praetorians and she was going to live to see him one last time. She wasn’t surprised by the actions his commanders had taken and had expected him to be the one to kill her. Praetorians were fiends like that. If he failed to kill her then he would be killed for disobeying an order. If the queen was in a forgiving mood she wouldn’t see fit to torture their family. Chrysalis was notoriously unforgiving of disobedient changelings, especially praetorians.
                    Una was forced to wonder how long she would have to wait. She was never patient, even in training when she had drawn her opponents. She killed them while they slept or through creative accidents. Only one made it to the ring, and she suspected that may have been fixed. Regardless, she had proven herself by swiftly beheading her opponent. The look on his face right before he realized he was dead was priceless. Noling else predicted that she would be able to turn her claw into an ax so swiftly. The sound when the dense bone met his chitinous armor. The onlookers who saw it coming had expected it to merely break the poor bastard’s neck. They hadn’t expected the edge of the blade to have a vestigial horn that heated and vibrated the ax, allowing for cleaner cuts.
                     It was innovative and she thought that it may have impressed the queen. She remembered when she thought just because she had a different weapon she was special. Her first commander had her confined to her barracks for two months, and just to be sure he broke all of her legs and her spine daily. At first she thought it was more hazing. Later she realized that her father was trying to teach her that praetorians had to obey the same rules, only the punishments were slightly less severe. What made it worthwhile was the various perks, chiefly a level of autonomy that was unheard of within the other parts of the changeling army. The food was good as well, far better than fighting for scraps with the legionnaires or the Tartarus damned levies.
                    She talked her little brother out of the levies where he would’ve surely died or disappeared into joining the praetorians. Now he was standing right outside her door on his first mission. Her pride overpowered her small and insignificant fear of death. She had accepted it as all praetorians had to accept their failures. Death was inevitable, and she couldn’t feel more proud of the changeling who was carrying it out.
---
        Shining Armor had resigned himself to his room. He thought that was for the best after a gardener had found him screaming at himself in the maze. Still, all the things that he had thought when he started arguing with himself had made sense. He was beginning to think he wasn’t fit to protect Equestria, Canterlot, or even his own wife.
        The thought of packing up and leaving for the Crystal Empire crossed his mind. Cadence would eventually return and maybe they could talk about it. He just wished that he could look at himself in the mirror without wanting to break it. He doubted she would ever forgive him. Why should she? He couldn’t even protect her before their and now he’s attacking her!
        Discord had left Specs alone and was now watching the outcome of his work on Shining Armor. The god wasn’t powerful enough to make him go full grey and that was far too noticeable. Especially by the Element of Laughter. He just had to keep Shining Armor in a self-loathing state of mind. Discord doubted that he could keep Shining like that for too long. His wife was, after all, looking for him so that they could make up.
        The changeling’s were also surveying the captain around the clock and were moving in on Ancro and his friends. They were going to attack in a week. Discord wasn’t a fan of keeping to schedules. Neither was he a fan of waiting. Discord felt that two days was a more appropriate time. For a moment he thought that he should tell Specs of this change in plans. Discord shrugged and figured he’d tell her about five minutes before claw. It would be more fun that way.
---
        “See, I told you that there was no way Pinkie Pie could set up a party with all the guards.” Twilight said. She had rushed to make up for lost time during Pinkie Pie’s party that they had postponed. There wasn’t much left to see after that, just a few wings of the palace that housed various quarters for staff and workers and the plumbing. Twilight looked around the room to be doubly certain, then looked at Ancro’s knowing smile. “You sense her, don’t you.”
        “Eeyup.” The changeling replied.
        “Aw, c’mon! You are such a party pooper,” Pinkie Pie said as she fell from the ceiling along with confetti and balloons.
        “Sorry,” Ancro said sheepishly.
        “Pinkie Pie, we really need to be trying to get some work done,” Twilight said. “We need to try to find the changeling.”
        “C’mon Twilight, it’s only 3:30,” Pinkie whined. For a second Ancro thought Twilight was going to give herself an aneurysm from the anger he was feeling off her.
        “And why is this one your favorite?” Scott whispered to Ancro.
“Because she’s insane,” Ancro whispered back. After a few minutes Twilight, Stigandr, and Scott excused themselves from the small and slightly awkward party.
        “It’s been a busy day,” Ancro said trying to comfort the pink pony. 
        “I know I just figured I could try to help a bit. Cake?” Pinkie Pie asked, balancing the plate on top of her mane.
        “No thanks,” the changeling replied. “I can’t taste anything unless somepony eats it.”
        “Well why didn’t you say so?” Pinkie replied. In one swift motion the cake bounced off her mane flipped through the air and landed in her mouth. Ancro was almost salivating as the delicious taste of the cake entered his mouth.
“Hey Pinkie,” Ancro said, secretly bracing himself for asking a question that he hoped didn’t end with a party cannon blast, “Do you count me as a friend?”
        “Nope not really,” Pinkie Pie said flatly, “More along the lines of a friendly acquaintance.”
        “Alright,” Ancro said doing his best not to seem hurt...awkward silence. “So where’s the rest of the troupe?”
        “Oh, Rarity said she had to finish up an outfit to go with your fez, Fluttershy is too scared to be trapped in anything smaller than a ballroom with you, and Applejack said that she made her reason for coming in the first place perfectly clear to you guys earlier, whatever that means.”
        “She was threatening to turn us in if we did anything suspicious,” Ancro answered.
“I don’t know why she had to go and say that,” Pinkie Pie responded with a hoof on her chin, “It should be obvious that we’ll all do that.”
“Nice to know that you have all that faith in us Pinkie Pie,” Ancro said.
“Hey, you just need to help us find the changelings,” Pinkie Pie said, “Then we’ll trust you more. Besides, if you do put a hoof out of line I still got my party cannon.”
        Ancro smiled. “So have you figured out my riddle yet?”
        “No I haven’t and I’ve asked a raven and a writing desk,” Pinkie said as her eyes narrowed,“I’m starting to think it doesn’t have an answer.”
        “Of course it has an answer.” Ancro said smiling, “You just haven’t figured it out yet.” Ancro wished he could tell her the answer since he could feel that it was eating her alive. If he could only talk about Earth then they...well then he and his friends could end up locked in some mental wing of a pony insane asylum for just being that crazy.
        “So the only way you can taste anything is if somepony else eats it?” Pinkie Pie asked.
        “...yes,” Ancro replied somewhat unsure of what to expect.
        “Can you control it?” Pinkie Pie asked, Ancro noticed she had been inching towards the open bathroom door.
        “Not particularly,” Ancro replied, remembering the time Stigandr had tried grass. He wasn’t dumb. He knew he was walking into a trap. The human turned changeling was only curious to what the trap entailed.
“So if a pony ate soap you’d have to taste it as well?” She darted towards the open bathroom door and Ancro pounced. He had had his mouth washed out with soap plenty of time by his mother, and he refused to have it done by Pinkie Pie. Especially when he hadn’t done anything to deserve it!

---
        “Well this is the only place that we haven’t checked.” Rainbow Dash said as they approached the Triumvirate’s room. Rainbow Dash had been avoiding looking at, commenting on, or even acknowledging Cadence’s eye. She hadn’t been doing a good job at it.
        “I know it looks awful.” Cadence said, “believe me though it is going to get better.”
        “I still can’t believe what that changeling made Shining Armour do to you.” Rainbow Dash said, “If I ever get the chance to I’ll teach him a lesson.”
        “Rainbow Dash, Shining Armor was out of control.” Cadence said, “He didn’t even know what he was doing until it was too late. That still doesn’t excuse him and we will sit down and talk about it.”
        “Still, somepony has to be blamed,” Rainbow Dash replied.
        “Rainbow Dash, you’re a black belt right?” Cadence asked to which Rainbow Dash nodded. “Then you know that there are certain reflexive triggers that you pick up over time, for instance if somepony sneaks up on you?”
        “Yeah there are sometimes when I still get snuck up on,” Rainbow Dash said remembering all the times Pinkie Pie has gotten the drop on her.
        “Yes and do you have to restrain yourself if you are real tense to make sure that you didn’t hurt the wrong pony?” Cadence asked in a tone saying that she already knew the answer. “It was dark, he thought I was in danger and was doing everything he could to find me.”
        Before Rainbow Dash could respond there was a yelp behind the door. Rainbow Dash reacted sooner than the guards and flung the door open. She saw that the changeling was on top of Pinkie Pie! That was more than enough for her.
She stopped midair adjacent to Ancro and completed the kick she started after assessing the scene. The kick connected with Ancro’s front knee caps and bent them back the opposite way as the forceful blow continued until it hit the changeling’s upper chest. In Ancro’s brain the slow motion effect of adrenaline had already kicked in as his forelegs bent a way he was sure they weren’t supposed too. Then when the kick connected with him he felt the incredible force across his ribcage as his body was sent backwards and he ended up crashing into the bed behind him. The changeling decided it would be best not to get up for a bit. Why was he the one having to get used to bones breaking since he got here? 
---
        “Rainbow Dash!” Cadence said as she went into the room followed by guards.
        “Pinkie!” Twilight said as she barged in from the adjacent room. Stigandr and Scott followed immediately after calling for their friend thinking he had run afoul of the party cannon. Then saw a heavily breathing Rainbow Dash.
        “Ancro are you alright?” Stigandr asked approaching his friend on the bed. Several guards eyeing them wearily.
        “Did you know that sarcasm is still possible when you go into shock?” Ancro asked smiling. “Hey do us both a favor and don’t let Scott see?”
        “Don’t let me see what?” Scott said as he went over to the bed then almost immediately darted into the bathroom.
        “Pancakes don’t taste nearly as good the second time around.” Ancro said while turning a bit green.
        “Will somepony please explain to me what happened?” Twilight shouted. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and explained what she saw.
        “Wait, so Ancro attacked you?” Cadence asked Pinkie after hearing Rainbow Dash’s explanation. Ancro suddenly felt as though all the sharp pointy objects in the room were fixing to make a beeline for him. Stigandr tensed up as two of the guards stood behind him. The unicorn was really hoping his cutie mark had found a way around the ring on his horn. He was nervous to charge it because somepony was bound to notice in this room.
        “Kinda, we were playing around and I was gonna make him taste soap, he jumped at me to try to stop me from locking myself in the bathroom, and I yelped a bit to go along with it and Rainbow Dash came in and kicked him really hard, like really really hard!” Pinkie Pie explained and pointed to the changeling catching his breath on the bed. “It was all an honest misunderstanding.”
        “Misunderstanding?” Twilight said, “He attacked you!”
        “I wasn’t going to do anything.” Ancro shouted from the bed. “We were playing.”
        “How do we know you weren’t planning to take her hostage?” Rainbow Dash said flying over and hovering inches from Ancro’s face eyeing him suspiciously.
        “It’s Pinkie Pie,” Ancro explained in a flat tone, “I don’t think I could do that morally or logistically.”
        “You had a plan, although given your track record I’d say it wasn’t a good one,” Rainbow Dash said smiling a bit as she tried to get under the changeling’s skin. She was succeeding, as two of Ancro’s pet peeves were being that close into his personal space and calling him a liar while insulting him.
        “Rainbow Dash,” Ancro said in a very articulate and direct tone, “Do you want to wait until my legs are healed and we can take this to the mat?”
        “Eager to get your butt beat again so soon?”
        “No, eager to teach you a thing or two about personal space,” Ancro replied.
        “Excuse me,” a red unicorn with a blonde mane said and she poked her through the magical light curtain of the door and into the room, “This is the Triumvirate’s room, correct?”

(Big thanks to my editors Tuv, Pon Katt, Tsujin Rilauco, Abyx4433. Well they plan to keep me at Subway...which is good I think. Thanks to my artist Sara (shaya.laperro@gmail.com) for doing the cover art. Also thanks to my friends who don't mind me writing about them in this regard. As usual if you fav it like it and feedback is appreciated. If you don't feel comfortable sending me negative feedback through the comments just pm me. Thanks for reading!)

> Grudge Match
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 24

        Ancro was positively giddy when he stepped into the dirt ring. They had gone over the rules beforehoof and they had been fairly standard. Ancro had the most restrictions, but he understood why. It’s not like Rainbow Dash could shoot fireballs out of her forehead, she could just shatter wood with a single blow and punch through multiple trees and do any other number of things to screw him up. It’s okay, though; he liked a bit of a challenge. This one though, was bordering on a bit of the ridiculous side. Still, he was about to cross another thing off his brony checklist: spar with Rainbow Dash.
        He glanced over when he felt the massive presences of all three princesses. He was going to keep his distance from that part of the ring. ‘Speaking of rings,’ Ancro thought as he felt a pressure remove itself from his horn. His sixth sense immediately became sharper and the world was much more clear. Also he felt a trickle of love coming from his friends behind him. He’d have to apologize to them for causing this whole mess with Rainbow Dash.
        He became more aware of all the ponies observing him, as well as his two friends in the outfits Rarity had made for them as a peace offering. Wish he could have been there to see the look on Scott's face. Personally, he thought the outfits looked ridiculous. Ancro was more of the trench coat, sarcastic T-shirt person. He wasn't going to say that for the sake of forcing Scott into it.
        He took a stance on his hind legs and felt stubby fingers grow out of all four legs. The occasional buzzing of his wings kept him from falling over. He immediately felt Rainbow Dash become cautious. Which frightened him a bit, he'd rather fight someone who is just plain angry. Not angry and cautious, it changed the field a bit.
        As much as he tried he couldn't get the goofy looking grin off his face. Yes, he challenged her because she had broken his legs. Yes, she may have had some right to because of what she saw. That was yesterday and Ancro had never been able to hold a grudge. He had called her out to a fair fight and with a little nudge had gotten her to agree.
        'Besides, if there's one thing that will get Rainbow Dash's respect, it's honor,' Ancro thought to himself. He didn't realize what a mistake he made until the fight began.
---
        “What did you say to me?” Rainbow Dash said. Neither of them noticed the guards filing out of the room; however, she did notice that Ancro said something under his breath.
        “You heard me,” Ancro replied, “The only one who’s going to cause trouble is you.”
        “Cake?” Pinkie Pie said, trying to calm them down with a distraction. Then she remembered Ancro couldn’t taste it directly. She ate a slice of it instead, it had no effect. Scott walked over and put his taloned leg on Ancro to try to get him to settle down.
        “Ancro, calm down and tell me what happened,” Scott said nervously. He gestured to his friend’s mangled forelegs while trying to keep his eyes averted. Legs do not bend that way, ever. In actuality he was trying to distract his friend so that he’d stop egging on the gay pride pony.
        “He was attacking my friend and I taught him a lesson.”
        “Give me a few hours to heal and I’ll teach you a few lessons,” Ancro replied evenly. That tone was all Scott needed to know what was going through his friend’s head.
        “No, Ancro don’t,” Scott said. “It’s over.”
        “It’s not over yet, I’d like to see if she could take me in a fair fight,” Ancro responded looking at his friend. Then to egg on Dash he turned back to her and smirked.
        It had the desired effect and Scott and a half dozen guards had to get between them. The griffin saw Pinkie Pie try to hold her back as well. All the while she was threatening to beat the unholy hell out of Ancro if she got the chance. Pinkie Pie and some pink alicorn managed to direct her friend into Stigandr’s room. Scott turned back and could read Ancro’s face like a book. He wanted to fight.
        Scott knew Ancro could be a pain when he was in this kind of mood. Throw in the lesbian pony’s arrogance and attitude all they needed was a fuse and voila his friend was going to do everything within his power to start a fight. The truly terrifying thing was that Ancro didn’t care if he won. Back on earth one of his laments was that he didn’t push some drunk guy far enough to actually start the fight. Ancro for the most part just liked to fight new people, or in this case ponies, and when he was revved up like this nothing could stop him. Not even deportation or deep dark pits.
---
        Ancro would have to thank Specs for teaching me how to make chitin. It was what was saving his flank in this fight since the blows were coming faster than he could block. If she hadn't taught him that last night he knew for sure he'd be in a lot more trouble. As it was he was still getting pushed around, just with more durability. Still, rope-a-dope wasn't his preferred strategy. He had stayed in his corner though, and that was key to his plan.
        Finally, Ancro was able to get an advantage. He dodged just enough to overextend Rainbow Dash and with practiced precision grabbed her right hoof with his right hoof hand thing and pulled her in. As Ancro hoped she wasn't expecting a grapple and wasn't prepared.
        A sudden jerk from the changeling put the hovering Rainbow Dash off balance. Before she could react she had been pulled below Ancro by his one foreleg and he reared back with his other and delivered a haymaker to the side of her face. Dazed and still recovering from the first hit she didn't have time to realize he was bringing his elbow back into her cheek. Then he leaned back and they both fell on the ground with Ancro in control.
---
        “The changeling and Rainbow Dash had an altercation,” Celestia said to Luna as she walked in to claim her throne for the evening.
        “I trust you have taken care of contacting the griffins,” Luna replied somewhat crestfallen. She had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
        “No it was apparently a misunderstanding,” Celestia said, “Ancro, who was injured during the scuffle, is demanding a rematch.”
        “Seriously thou are joking,” Luna replied cocking an eyebrow, “We mustn’t allow this.”
        “Rainbow Dash accepted it,” Celestia replied, “Every precaution will be taken to ensure their safety.”
        “Certainly you have tried to talk sense to them.”
        “Sister, I’ve tried reasoning with both of them,” Celestia said, “Rainbow Dash isn't willing to drop it, not completely. Ancro seems to be a bit obsessed though.”
        “Did thou try threatening him?” Luna responded, “Does he not understand that we require his assistance, not trouble? Must we follow through on locking him away?”
        “Calm down,” Celestia said, “Ancro will in all honesty goad her into making the first move if we don't let him have this concession.”
        “So? We must let them go through with this?” Luna asked in shock.
        “Unfortunately,” Celestia said, she was none too thrilled about one of her little ponies being in harm’s way either, even more so since Ancro’s ring was going to be removed for the fight as well. She was very surprised that the request came from Rainbow Dash. However she and several dozen guards would be present, ensuring everypony’s safety. She knew the only way to get any actual help from the changeling would be to let him have this. No matter how inane it was. “We don’t have much choice.”
        “Very well, I shall be present as well then,” Luna said then smiled, “It will cause him to double his caution if he were to try anything.”
        “As will Cadence,” Celestia said.
        Luna turned to her sister and raised an eyebrow, “What are you playing at sister?”
        “You'll find out if it works,” Celestia said with a smile, “Good night.”
----
        “This is more fun than I thought it would be,” Celestia said as she watched Rainbow Dash struggle to break the changeling's grip while deflecting the rest of his punches.
        “Are we meant to watch this for enjoyment, or to protect the bearer of the Element of Loyalty?” Luna replied flatly.
        “Sister you must find some enjoyment in everything,” Celestia stated, “I'm enjoying watching two skilled individuals show their talents. I have not forgotten that Ancro is a prisoner or is doing this because he feels the need to be annoying.”
        “We were just being certain,” Luna responded then smiled slightly, “He is fairly talented in grappling.”
        “Sister look,” Celestia said.
        “So that's why you allowed this fight,” Luna said as she looked towards the edge of the crowd of guards that had gathered. Some were the guards assigned to the Triumvirate, most were off duty and wanted to watch a changeling fight, either as a learning experience or for fun. One however who was trying to make himself look invisible was Shining Armor. However, to the three alicorns he stuck out like a sore hoof.
        “I brought him out of hiding for you,” Celestia said looking at Cadence.
        “Thank you,” Cadence said with a soft smile.
---
        “Now he's got this,” Scott said with a slight smile. When he saw Ancro taking that beating he had gotten a bit worried. He knew Ancro's fighting style well, having been used as a practice dummy to find out if various parts of his grappling techniques were still viable. Back on Earth he had a thing for pressure points. “Hope he teaches that bitch a lesson.”
        “Wouldn't say so yet,” Stigandr said and ignored the rest of Scott's comment. He was in agreement that what Rainbow Dash had done had been brash, harsh, and unnecessary. However, if he had been in a similar position he couldn't blame her. “He's been getting beaten up quite a bit, and power hits aren't his thing, and he won't win using those against her. Also he is grappling with an opponent who can fly.”
        “True but he's got a grip on her,” Scott said. “And grappling is his thing. Have a feeling that ponies aren't that good at it.”
        “If he can hold it he may have a chance,” the unicorn replied. Before Scott could ask what he meant, Rainbow Dash rolled just enough to get her wings out from underneath her and took off like a rocket with Ancro in tow.
–
        Ancro desperately clung to Rainbow Dash as she desperately tried to lose his grip. He wasn't letting go, it had helped that Specs had taught him a trick that would make his hooves and hands act like Velcro to a ponies coat. With her kicking him and bucking him as she pulled insane aerial maneuvers he struggled to grab his objective, her wing.
        After a few more moments of struggling he nearly kicked himself, but Rainbow Dash had been doing a far better job of that while in the middle of their midair grapple. He was wrestling with his eyes open. How could he have forgotten he always wrestled better blind! He learned that the first year he wrestled for crying out loud. Laughing a bit at his mistake he closed his eyes and went to work.
---
        'Alright,' Rainbow Dash thought as she tried again to get the changeling to let go 'something's not right.'
        She dived low try to scrape him off on the ground but at the last second she felt his weight surge as he pulled himself up. Her efforts to kick him were fruitless because her his other foreleg had grabbed hold of the back of her her leg and it was interfering majorly. She decided to try to roll again, hoping the force would do something.
        'Wait a second what's his finger do-' Rainbow Dash was interrupted by a sudden jolt of pain coming from behind her knee where one of his fingers had dug into. Her entire leg had locked up. It was so sudden it almost caused her to crash at the low altitude. She pulled up and felt relieved that she had at least lost his foreleg that was grabbing onto hers. She felt terrified as he grabbed onto the base of her wing. Blinding pain hit her as her wing locked up and she fought to desperately get her wing out of his grip.
---
        “Crap, Crap, Crap!” Ancro said as he desperately struggled to keep control of his grip on Rainbow Dash and lift them both. Her continued attacks on him were not helping either. Even with one wing she was still providing enough power to pull him around. Finally, with one last twist Ancro's velcro assisted grip was broken and he went tumbling, landing on a nearby cloud.
        Rainbow Dash shook her wing trying and checked for burns. She double checked, there was no way that he was able to do that without magic.
        “Pressure points,” Ancro said standing up. “Nothing permanent, good for submissions though. Do you need a moment?”
        He was glad that she had almost no immunity to pressure points. It made his job a lot easier. She wasn't going to go nearly as easy on him as he'd either. He could feel her control slipping. Maybe making a borderline mega-damage pegasus angry wasn't his brightest idea. It was too late and she picked up the pace in the fight. If Ancro thought she was fast before he hadn't seen anything yet.
---
        “That looked painful,” Scott said as he watched Rainbow Dash relentlessly attack Ancro.
        “Yeah,” Stigandr said chuckling.
        “I didn't think your friend would be stupid enough to taunt her,” Entomology said. Neither of them had noticed her walk up to them. Stigandr still couldn't shake that uneasy feeling that something was off about her. Then without warning the fight restarted and Rainbow Dash propelled herself at Ancro with renewed vigor.
        “He's not,” Stigandr said, “He was being sincere.”
        “She didn't see it that way,” Entomology replied. “So who do you think will win?”
        “Rainbow Dash,” Scott and Stigandr replied simultaneously. The griffin with a little more malice in his voice.
        “Not a lot of faith in your friend,” The red unicorn stated.
        “No just more faith in Rainbow Dash,” Stigandr said. “I won't be surprised if Ancro makes her work for it but he was going into a lopsided fight.”
        “I figured,” Entomology said. “I need to run some tests on Scott after this.” Then she walked away without waiting for a reply. Mostly because she was listening to the voice of her employer and his thinly veiled threats. Internally she shrugged, at least her brother's date went well last night.
---
        It was the middle of the night and Ancro couldn't sleep. He hated when this happened; he needed to be well rested for the fight tomorrow morning but now he couldn't sleep. He knew he was going to get beaten pretty hard, even if everything thing did go according to his plan.
        Winning wasn't an option. What he was going for was respect and to cross off one more thing on his brony to do list. Sparring with Rainbow Dash. Also to maybe knock her down a tiny bit. Breaking his front legs like that had made him want to humble her. Even though he understood where she was coming from. If he saw something similar to what she saw for Scott or Stigandr he'd react the same way. He also knew impulse control wasn't her strong suit.
        The door opened and the room lit up, he felt the presence of somepony familiar but other than that he couldn't place his hoof on it. “I know you are awake.”
        “Oh hi, Entomology,” Ancro said sitting up. “Here for a sleep study?”
        “No I'm here to teach you so you don't get your flank completely destroyed tomorrow,” she said, then in a pillar of fire she shifted into one of the changelings from the sewer.
        “Wait, you are Entomology?” Ancro asked. “So is your day job a pony that studies changelings or is this a one time gig?”
        “Hopefully a one time deal,” She said, “the original had an unfortunate accident.”
        “I bet,” Ancro said not helping but feeling sad about the pony who had died.
        “We only have a few hours so I'm going to teach everything I can,” She said taking a deep breath. “First let's start with armor.”
        “Alright.”
        “Just picture yourself with chitin instead of bones.” She turned around to make sure the door was securely closed. Ignoring the limp thump on the floor. “You only got rid of your bones.”
        “Avealahdat,” Ancro said while on the floor like a jelly fish. Talking without a jaw was difficult.
        “While you figure out where you screwed up I may as well go into the benefits of chitin armor,” she said, clearing her throat. Originally she hadn't planned on doing this but the voice of her employer her said to cover everything. “Since it's different from our base form it takes energy to sustain it but it is counterbalanced by the fact that it heals quicker than bones in a fight while being harder.”
--
        “That looked like it hurt.” Fluttershy said as she flinched away from the fight.
        “He'll be fine,” Twilight said, taking a few more notes. “He wanted to fight her so badly and that's what he's getting.”
        “Ah was a bit worried there for a moment when he grabbed onto her.” Applejack confided. “Didn't know what kind of changeling magic he was going to use.”
        “He wasn't using magic in the sky.” Twilight said, “He was using pressure points.”
        “What's that?” Pinkie Pie asked letting the straw slide out of her mouth not taking her eyes off the dogfight. Rainbow Dash was being a lot more cautious and a lot more devastating with her attacks.
        “Groups of nerves typically found where joints meet.” Twilight answered. “If pressure is applied to them they can cause debilitating pain and in some cases numbness and loss of control.”
        “How did ya find that out?” Applejack asked.
        “I reread a book of pony anatomy last night while I was researching of the changeling transformation process,” Twilight said. “They were briefly brought up. By the way where is Rarity?”
        “She said this isn't really her thing and that she needed to put the finishing touches on a special project,” Applejack replied watching as Ancro was knocked into the ground and tumbled a bit before standing up. “He can take a bit more of a beating than the ones we fought.”
        “Yeah I've noticed that too,” Fluttershy said just before she cringed away again.
        “It's not all him,” Twilight explained, “He's feeding off his friends. He's been trying to keep the fight as close to them as possible.”
        “That dirty cheater,” Applejack said slamming her hoof down.
        “He's not really cheating,” Pinkie Pie said, “It's kinda like when Rainbow Dash and you had that Iron Pony competition. Her using her wings wasn't 'cheating', just almost.”
        “He probably needs all the help he can get to keep that exoskeleton up,” Twilight said. “Honestly I didn't know Ancro could do that trick. I'll have to examine it later.”
---
        Ancro patiently hummed away, partly to pass the time and partly to drown out the crunching noise of his bones mending. He couldn’t get over how weird it felt. He really hoped he could heal from the cancer they were going to cause him with that machine. He didn’t even notice that Twilight had one set up when he was in here the other day.
        “He would probably heal faster if we took the ring off his horn,” Entomology said as Twilight compared the x-ray from five minutes ago to the one that had just developed.
        “Interesting, changeling healing isn't actually healing,” Twilight said as she looked at some readings on the charts. “It's actually a lot slower transformation that take place more slowly until the changeling reverts to it's original form. At least that's what the evidence suggests. Which means that's why a changeling reverts to its base form when it's injured. That's the natural response!”
        Specs was impressed. She hadn't expected the unicorn unicorn to realize that. Granted most changelings didn't even know how their own healing worked. All they cared about was that it worked. Some had even learned how to suspend it, accelerate it, or heal while in a different form. She could suspend it for a few minutes but it took so much concentration that most the time it wasn't worth it. One of the things that the Praetorians were best at is complete mastery over their ability to heal and stay in form while doing it. She heard of Praetorians who had been ripped in half yet still remained in Apex long enough to kill the individual who attacked them.
        “To answer your question Entomology, in all likelihood it would,” Twilight replied, “but with what happened earlier I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
        “With all due respect miss Sparkle,” Entomology spoke up, “his legs are in terrible shape. It would also allow me to test a theory I have on changeling healing attributes that their body naturally allocates energy to crisis areas.” ‘There,’ Specs thought, ‘lots of big words. That’s sure to convince the egghead.’
        “C’mon Twilight,” Ancro whined, “Did I go anywhere last time?”
        “Last time you didn't try to pick a fight with one of my friends,” Twilight barked.
        “Last time your friend didn't break my front legs,” Ancro chuckled.
        “You jumped one of my friends and tried to start a fight with the other,” she replied flatly then went back to take another x-ray. “Can you give me another reason?”
        “Nothing comes to mind,” Ancro said mimicking a shrug as best he could. “By the way next time you see her tell Rainbow Dash I want a rematch. I think I can take her.”
        “What?” Twilight shouted. Several other things passed through her mind as well, most of them involving her insulting Ancro. Rainbow Dash could get pretty riled up and if she knew Ancro said that… well it just wouldn’t be pretty. Besides, they needed Ancro alive. He may be able to help them catch the changelings and having Rainbow Dash stomping him into the ground, while somewhat entertaining, wouldn’t be very productive.
        “Yeah, at the very least I could give her a run for her money.” Ancro said after a second of thought, “She’ll probably stomp me.”
        “So you don’t want to fight her anymore?” Entomology asked, somewhat lost. While Specs did need time alone to teach Ancro some of the basics that he didn’t know, she’d also like to know if she should teach him to fight or run away.
        “Oh don’t be silly of course I still want to fight her,” Ancro said. “It’s the principle of the thing.”
        “I won’t let you fight her,” Twilight said with a stomp. “Both of you are going to apologize to each other and that will be that.”
        “What else are you going to do mom? Make us sit on the couch and hold hooves?” Ancro joked. Twilight didn’t see the humor and made a zipper appear over the changeling’s mouth. Specs, interested to see Ancro in a straight up fight by himself, decided to step in.
        “It would be interesting to gather combat analysis on a changeling,” Specs said timidly. “Nothing beats first hoof experience.”
----
        Ancro crashed into the ground, landing on his chest with a thud. Instinctively he charged his hooves and in a flash of green launched himself to the right, dodging Rainbow Dash's drop kick. He was fortunate to dodge it just as she fully committed. It gave him precious few moments to recover from her knocking him from the air. He really hoped that nopony would count him blasting himself as cheating. He squared off against Rainbow Dash who had already recovered.
        “Your armor's gone,” Rainbow Dash said matter of factly. “You want to call it quits?”
        “No, I'll be fine,” Ancro replied, “I am perfect after all.”
        “Suit yourself,” Rainbow Dash said and went into her crouching stance. Ancro stood on his hind legs again and switched to southpaw. He knew this was going to hurt. However, he had accomplished his goal. On the outside she may have seemed cool and collected. Inside though she was happy, and try as she might Ancro could tell there was no way for her to get that smirk off her face. Then she rushed him.
        Ancro stepped to the left to dodge her hooves but forgot about her wings. Granted she hadn't been using them. Her right wing came along and smacked him in the face. Then while he was stunned she followed through with a kick that knocked him completely off his balance and onto the ground. Then to finish it she pinned his hooves to the ground and put one of her knees on his chest. Ancro immediately tapped.
---
        “Lasted longer than I thought it would,” Stigandr said. “Good thing he figured out how to make armor.”        
        “I wonder when he figured it out?” Scott asked. “It's not like he gets to practice with magic.”
        “Point, but it may have been something he's been trying to figure out,” Stigandr said as they walked out towards their friend, completely ignoring their escorts. “And this is the first chance he's had to try it.”
        “Yes because obviously against Shiny or the changelings it would've been entirely useless,” Scott replied.
        “Hey do you get any funny feelings about Entomology?” Stigandr asked. “Like we've seen her before?”
        “No I haven't,” Scott said. “Remember how we tried to avoid serious contact for about a month, then we learned you all are illiterate to pony, the other stuff.”
        “Yeah but I can't shake the feeling that there's something off about her,” Stigandr said. “It's probably nothing but see what you can find out when you go see her.”
        “Alright I'll try,” Scott said, not sure exactly what he was going to be looking for.
        As Stigandr scanned the various guards he couldn't help but shake the feeling that something about a few of them seemed off. Whether it was their behavior or the way they moved or just a look in their eyes they stood out like sore thumbs to him. Worse yet, when they looked back he couldn't help but feel a little scared.
----
        Discord smiled as he put down his copy of Alice and Wonderland. Reading things in between dimensions was exceptionally tiring given the position he was in. He could either go all the way through, but then he'd be absent to events of his plan and he needed to be sure they were working accordingly. Things were falling into place quite well. He'd have to readjust some of the pieces before too long though. Also he'd need to elaborate on the details of Specs' brother's date. It went quite well, he even got a kiss. At the very least he'd tell her before he kicked things into motion or why they were he was sure that would be a fun conversation.
        All he had to do now was get Shining Armor to forgive himself. Then he could begin the next phase of his plan.


(Sorry about the wait but this chapter was truly an exceptional pain. By the end I had 16k worth of words typed up and organized into various scenes and a little over a quarter of them made it into the finished chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it and as always feedback is appreciated and welcomed. Big thanks to my editors Tuv, Pon Katt, Tsujin Rilauco, Abyx4433. Thanks to my artist Sara for making the cover art for this story. Also looking for a second job to help pay for college next semester. I’d like to find one that let’s me write (either pays me to write or gives me lots of time in which I can write.)  Thanks for reading.)

> Killers, Outfits, Rape Joke
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 25




        “So he's the one we are here for?” One guard whispered to another. Their expressions were perfectly fitting them in with the rest of the of the crowd. His tone was low and even, not displaying his stunning disbelief that the changeling they were after, the changeling that escaped a decena, was that wasteful creature. He would barely be on par with a legionnaire.
        “It's obvious he was restraining himself but so was the pegasus,” another confirmed. “If anything by a larger margin.”
        “It doesn't have to make sense,” said a voice from behind them. Though he had taken the position of the lowest ranking pony he could find, their commander still brought terror into their beings. “Our mission is to kill him and leave. If necessary assist with Shining Armor's abduction.”
        “Yes sir,” one made the mistake of whispering back. Though nopony could've hear him he felt their commander's rage as though it was a scream.
        “You've been relegated to distracting the princesses when the time comes,” he said before walking off.
        “Been a pleasure serving with you,” the other guard whispered as the fight reached it's inevitable conclusion.
        “Likewise,” he said back, remaining perfectly stoic as Ancro tapped the ground. “I'll go to the rest of the detachment when I'm done here.”
        “Doesn't matter to me,” he replied and looked over towards the sandy brown unicorn that seemed to be staring at him. Their eyes locked if only for the briefest of moments. Then he felt some primal fear arise inside the unicorn. It was almost like he knew. However, with the confusion mixed with the fear it seemed the contrary. He would have to bring this up to the commander. It was probably nothing, but still, this was highly unusual.
        His fellow praetorian had gone to report to his new posting. It shouldn’t take too long, then he'd be back. He passed by a stock still Shining Armor. He reeked of trepidation and fear. Obviously he wanted to move forward to his wife, yet he couldn't find the strength. Whether he didn't know what to say or what to do, it wasn't important to him. Shining Armor wasn't his decana's responsibility. That fell to the decana of praetorians that were following him.
        
---
        “I could really use a hug right now.” Ancro groaned as two thirds of the Triumvirate were escorted to their room. A number of factors were causing this hunger migraine. Firstly, the fight had taken a lot out of him; secondly, the ring they had crammed back on his horn had taken out his ability to absorb; and thirdly, Entomology or Specs or whatever he was supposed to call her had taken Scott and now his intake was cut in half. Before Stigandr could respond the changeling looked back towards the guards. “Any takers? I know you guys have been growing fond of me.” It didn't matter how miserable he was Ancro was always going to be a smart ass.
        He saw blank stares but felt anger behind their stoic faces. Then Stigandr gave him a hug. Then the unicorn did something unexpected. He picked the changeling up and squeezed him forcing the air out of his lungs. When he was put back down he couldn't help but smile. After all the times he hugged Stigandr's floating ribs back on Earth it was about time he got some payback. Then Ancro heard a guard stifle a snicker.
        Stigandr didn't know if it was because it caused the changeling pain or if they genuinely were finding their their antics funny. Ancro didn't really care as long as somepony was happy he was happy.
        “Did Entomology say what she wanted Scott for?” Ancro said, catching his breath. As much as he liked to believe she was helping from the bottom of her heart, the changeling was skeptical. Granted, paranoia and distrust were two things that he did have problems with.
        “I just assumed she's running test.” Stigandr replied shaking his mane from his eyes. He really needed to get it trimmed. “Although I can't shake the feeling there's something off about her. Asked Scott to see if he noticed anything.”
        Ancro managed to keep a knowing smile off his face. He'd tell Stigandr when they were back in their rooms. The unicorn was always observant. Besides Specs didn't say to keep it a secret. She was probably planning a reveal to Stigandr at some point or another. She was probably already taking care of Scott, although he did wonder what tricks she could teach the griffin.

---
        “Wow, I didn't imagine the lab like this.” Scott said as he looked around the room at the assorted equipment ranging from an X-Ray machine to one of those funny brain scan things. As well as chemicals and a... radar dish? Honestly, Scott had no clue.  He assumed magic was the answer. It kept him from screaming when Ancro landed on the cloud during the fight. “What kind of tests did you want to do on me?”
        “I don't need to run any tests.  That was just an excuse so that I could get you alone.” She said. Scott suddenly felt very very uneasy. “Love is love, there is no real difference in how it's sent or how it interacts with a changeling.” Scott heard the sound of a changeling transforming and immediately spun around and saw one of the black bugs.
        Before he could yell for help a thing of goo shot from her horn and landed on his beak. A second later she had gotten his wings and legs. The idiot almost blew her cover because of a little fright, and he was still terrified and fighting back. She knew she should calm him down, but then again she hadn't snacked on some fear in a while and it was extremely appetizing. Besides, it wasn't like Twilight was going to walk in. She had made plans with her friends while she waited for Ancro to recharge so that she could examine the armor.
        “Now where did you think you were going my pet?” She smiled careful to expose her fangs. “The fun is only just beginning.” Scott screamed through the wax gag several of what Specs assumed were obscenities.
        She walked over to his ears just below his beak. “Do you want to know what I'm going to do to you, or would you prefer a surprise?” Specs easily avoided the griffin's flailing. She felt his shock as her magic moved him from several of the more breakable items in the lab. She didn't want any excuse for a guard to come in here.
        Smiling wickedly, Specs brought the griffin within inches of her face. “I'm going to teach you to fight since you've apparently been doing a poor job of it so far.”
        After rolling around what she said several times Scott went from terrified to confused. She threatened him that if he screamed or alerted the guards he was going to die. Part of him wanted to challenge her claim but another part of him wanted free fighting lessons. He was tired of being practically useless. Scott nodded to show he understood and agreed. The wax came off.
        
---
        “Are you alright Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked.  She couldn't help but notice that her friend was messing with the wing the Ancro had grabbed.
        “Yeah, still a bit sore after he grabbed me.” She said dismissively. She needed to learn how to do those, or at the very least resist them.
        “Gotta admit, you had me worried a few times,” Applejack said, “But you showed that changeling what's what.”
        “You sure did.” Pinkie explained, “You were all like bam bam whack and he grabbed you and started wailing on you then you took off and-” at this point everypony else had cut out Pinkie Pie's replay of the fight.
        “Yeah he was pretty good but not quite as perfect as he claimed.” Rainbow Dash said, “Unless that's as perfect as a changeling gets.”
        “Rainbow your eye's looking a little swollen,” Twilight said, “Do you think we should take you to the doctor?”
        “Nah, I'll be good,” She replied, “I'd be more worried about him, felt something crack with that last kick.”
        “Ancro will be fine,” Twilight said looking a bit more concerned for her friend. “If how quickly he healed yesterday was any indication, he'll be fine in a few hours.”
        “I do have to admit that was kinda fun.” Rainbow Dash said somewhat out of the blue and to the shock of her friends. “Not just winning, the actual fight.”
        “What in tarnation are you talking about?” Applejack said, raising an eyebrow.
        “I didn't think he was taunting,” Pinkie said. “Ancro is a bit too nice to do that.”
        “Yeah what Pinkie said,” Rainbow Dash replied. “I mean he could've attacked me while he had my wing and really done something and after I shook him off he just waited.”
        “He could've been tricking you or just been cocky,” Applejack explained. “Seems to fit him saying he's perfect all the time.”
        “That is true,” Rainbow Dash laughed. “C'mon Twilight, let's take you to that restaurant we told you about. It gives you something to do while Ancro heals up.”

---
        “Finished,” Rarity chimed to the empty room, and she started to put away the sowing supplies. The palace was wonderfully stocked and she was already compiling a list of supplies and equipment to order for her own boutique. With her magic she neatly folded the the three outfits and put the two hats in their separate boxes. With a name like the Triumvirate they should have matching outfits and the changeling’s... unusual request had shown light on what they desired in a uniform.
        Now all she had to do was walk to their room and deliver it while avoiding running into prince Blueblood. She had been avoiding that pony like the plague. She was a guest and would behave as one, even to such a pompous, arrogant, mule of a pony. Honestly, how could somepony like that be related to the princesses? Yes, it was common knowledge that it was extremely distant. Still though, the way he acted was unforgivable for somepony of royal birth. They were supposed to behave with nobility and dignity.
        Rarity decided to change her train of thought so she wouldn't lose control of her temper. She turned to thinking about the Triumvirate. They were obviously very close friends; just looking at the lengths Scott and Stigandr went to free Ancro was proof of that. Still she wanted to know how it all began.  How did a changeling, a griffin, and a unicorn become best friends? Their personalities not matching up wasn't what bothered her. After all, neither did her’s, Pinkie Pie's, Applejack's, or Rainbow Dash's, but they were still fairly good friends.
        She approached the door and smiled at the stoic guards. She resisted rolling her eyes as they as they asked her to open the boxes so they could make sure she wasn't bringing them any contraband. Granted she knew that with the changelings on the loose the guards couldn't be too careful. They haven't even narrowed down the list as far as she knew it still included the majority of the palace staff.
        After getting through the guards she knocked on the center door to announce her presence.

---
        “Stigs,” Ancro whimpered while laying on the bed. “I think I may be a bit too crazy.”
        “Yes you probably are,” Stigandr said. “But burning yourself out when you are running on fumes over fulfilling a desire on your brony checklist isn't crazy as much as...”
        “Stupid?” Ancro asked with a slight chuckle.
        “Yup,” he responded. He had wanted to put it in nicer terms but the way Ancro had put it was probably best. “Honestly part of me wants to leave this room and leave you alone with the migraine.”
        “No please don't,” Ancro groaned. “It will take longer to go away.”
        “Exactly my point,” Stigandr replied, “now be quiet.”
        There was a knock on the door. That meant visitors. Visitors meant noise. Ancro got up from the bed and trudged into the next room. He'd rather it take longer to go away than deal with the immediate pain. He'd be back when the visitors left. He also realized he forgot to bring up Entomology to Stigandr. He figured he'd do it when he got to feeling better. Not like she was plotting to kill him.
        “Hello Stigandr,” Rarity chimed as she walked into the room. “Where are your friends if you don't mind me asking.”
        “Entomology is doing a study on Scott, and Ancro's in the next room nursing his migraine.” Stigandr replied.
        “Wouldn't it be better if he were in here?” she asked. “Twilight filled me in that those typically hit when they are hungry.”
        “I can get him back in here if you want me too,” Stigandr said with a mischievous smile as he walked up to the door Ancro walked out of.
        “No, I don't want to inconvenience him,” she said politely.
        “Won't be an inconvenience at all.” Stigandr grinned before clearing his throat and spoke loudly and clearly through the door. “Yeah I guess even Ancro has limits to how much pain he can take.”
        Ancro had walked back in within a few moments Ancro walked in looking very irate and directing towards Stigandr. Unfortunately Rarity was still holding her packages with magic and it was making him miserable.
        “Sorry man, you can go,” Stigandr said stifling his chuckle.
        “No,” Ancro said in a voice barely above a whisper, “I'm fine.” Ancro really wished Stigandr could sense emotions so he could tell how much of an ass he was. He knew dang well he wouldn't back down from a passive aggressive challenge.
        “Sorry to bother you both,” Rarity said as she opened the boxes and handed the contents to Stigandr and Ancro. “But I've been working on these and I have to know what you all think. I figured a group with a name like the Triumvirate should have matching uniforms. It's also a bit of thank you for agreeing to help us.” She started to magically unpack the boxes then noticed Ancro's discomfort with the more magic she used.
        “It's alright.  We can open them when Scott gets back.” Stigandr said.
        “I'll probably be feeling better by then too,” Ancro added, half squinting his eyes. Why did Rarity have to be so blindingly white?
        “I hope you get to feeling better Ancro,” Rarity said in a softer tone as she walked out the door.
        “Y'know Stigs,” Ancro said, turning his head slightly to look at his friend, “you can be a real ass at times.”
        “I didn't tell you to come in,” he responded with a smile. “Lie down and get some rest. Twilight will be wanting to take a look at your armor.”

---
        “I need a break,” Scott said, gasping for air. Specs had been giving him a crash course in griffin combat basics. Everything from weather control to better flying. Apparently being able to become anything made you a relative expert in everything.
        “We don't have time. Twilight is going to get Ancro and want to study him since he used armor,” Specs said. “You need to get better.”
        “Why are you even teaching me this?” Scott asked. “It makes more sense to tell me who the damn spy is.”
        “Changelings have no way to spot each other, the best way is to look for abnormalities.” She stomped. “Besides, knowing how to make weather and not get blown to Tartarus is more useful!”
        “Yeah but if we deal with the spy can get in better standing with the princesses.” he defended. “As long as those praetorians aren't coming after us we should be fine.”
        “All I came here to do is teach you how to not get killed,” she said pointedly. “If praetorians do come for you or if the spy or spies is a praetorian what are you going to do?”
        “Fine,” Scott growled. “What if I say I'll reveal you if you don't help me?”
        Spec flew at Scott and knocked him on the ground then put one of her forelegs to his neck. She then used her magic to increase the muscle density and let him use his imagination to guess just how strong it was. “If you even joke about telling anypony,” she hissed into his ear, “I will warp your mind and make you believe you love me more than your own life!”
        After she had gotten off Scott he begrudgingly started to put the lab back the way they found it. He was swearing under his breath the entire time. Specs turned back into Entomology and helped put the lab back in order.
        “What am I going to tell Twilight if she asks why you were studying me?” Scott growled after a few minutes of silence.
        “I was testing to see if griffins give the same output of love as ponies and if it is absorbed the same way,” she said. “The answer was yes. C'mon lets get you back to your room.”

---
        “Scott, look what Rarity got us!” Ancro proclaimed after he returned to the room. Stigandr and Ancro had decided to try them on without Scott after Ancro opened the box. They both knew there was no way to get him in. Still, never hurt to try.
        “I’m not wearing that,” Scott said. “I’d rather go naked.”
        “C’mon Scott, they don’t look that bad,” Ancro teased, adjusting the shirt Rarity made for him.
        “No,” Scott said. “Beside's this is not how the Triumvirate is supposed to look. I blame you for giving her this idea in the first place.”
        “Scott just try the dang thing on,” Stigandr said. “It's not going to kill you.”
        “And how are we supposed to look?” Ancro asked, raising an eyebrow out of curiosity.
        “Not like a pony, a changeling, and a griffin dressed as blue shriners.  Although I have to say what I am is pretty bad ass.” Scott stopped, “We should look like the ripped guys on those old movie posters. Us all standing atop a mound of the corpses of fallen enemies, me in the middle holding two big guns, Stigs looking like he could pound the hulk into dust, you just standing there with yer fedora or driver hat kinda creepy like while wearing your trench coat.”
        “Scott, you’re stalling,” Stigandr pointed out. “Why don’t you just put it on and get it over with?”
        “You know why Stigs,” Scott replied, his tone turning into more of a sulking one than earlier.
        “Scott, just accept the fact that it is a gift from Rarity and get dressed,” Ancro said. He was like this all the time with gifts. Even at Christmas and his birthday. Ancro had gotten to the point of just leaving them in his car so that he would be forced to keep them. It beat the alternative of shoving the present down his throat. “She’s the element of generosity, it’s what she does.”
        “Still, I can’t give her anything back so… I just feel uncomfortable.” Scott said, from inside the bathroom he started to hear a steady thumping. “Ancro are you beating your head against the wall?”
        “Of all the morals you don’t have why do you have to have the most annoying one?” Ancro said, “I mean seriously man.”
        “Scott,” Stigandr said before Ancro could continue his rant, “don’t think of it as a gift, but as early payment for us helping to find the changelings.”
        “Fine,” Scott said and opened the door revealing the outfit that Rarity had made for him. “But I'm not wearing the fez, I'll look like a blue Shriner.”
        “Scott, wear the fez.” Ancro said feeling like his friend was fixing to give him an aneurism. “Honestly I have no idea why you don't like fezzes.”
        “I'm in the outfit,” Scott said, “you're not getting anything else.”
        “Please?” Ancro said and put on his best pouty face. “If you don't wear it we won't all match and then think of how that will affect Stigandr and your OCD?”
        “No, I'm not wearing the fez,” Scott said. “It's bad enough that that bitch Specs or Entomology or whatever her name is went full DI on me.”
        “Wait what?” Stigandr said, “What are you talking about?”
        “Oh yeah I meant to bring that up to you but migraine and stuff,” Ancro said sheepishly.
        “Entomology is really a changeling named Specs.” Scott said face-taloning at Ancro's forgetfulness. “She's the one who offered to train Ancro in the sewers before Shining Armor beat the piss out of him.”
        “Alright but what's she doing in the palace?” Stigandr said. “And why is she training you?”
        “I don't know,” Ancro said. “She claims it’s ‘cause she is nice and sticks to her word.”
        “Isn't deception possibly one of their main things?” Scott said.
        “I'm not saying I believed her,” Ancro said. “I was just saying what she said.”
        “Great, so now we have a changeling with most likely horrible motives is helping us.” Stigandr said, “Anyone else forgetting anything?”

---
        “Sister?  I thought you had gone to bed,” Celestia said as she walked into the library and saw Luna pouring over books.
        “I should have, but being forced out of their dreams has been bothering me,” she said. “I am seeing if there is some spell that I could've missed, some geass charm that could conceivably keep them awake.”
        “Luna, we both know any magic of that power has been lost to the ages. The last two unicorns able to perform that spell are gone. Sombra was destroyed and Starswirl vanished.”
        “Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said.
        “I know you are not suggesting that my student has made an ancient spell for the sake of looking for a non-existent book,” Celestia chuckled.
        “No I'm saying that it seems to be within the possibilities of her potential,” Luna said dryly.
        “Get some rest dear sister, otherwise you won't be able to raise the moon,” Celestia said, then turned to leave the library.
        “You said vanished,” Luna said out of the blue. “You still hope to see our teacher again?”
        “I do,” Celestia said. “After all that is what happened, he went into his tower and vanished.”
        “Celestia, always so hopeful,” Luna said, making her voice deeper so she could mock their teacher. “When will you learn to blah blah blah.”
        “I remember when he walked in on you doing that impression,” Celestia said with a smile.
        “Why do you think I did it?” Luna said, then nuzzled her sister. “I'm going to rest. Hopefully you'll be able to make some headway with the Triumvirate since Ancro has had his fun.”
        “Thank you for your patience with him.”
        “I just hope he doesn't push us any further,” she said. “Luckily the griffins haven't asked us why we are holding one of theirs in captivity. I'd hate to destroy their friendship.”
        “I think that if we did do that the other two would take any opening they had and break out just to go get him,” Celestia said with smile.
        “Sadly I have a feeling I'd be willing to give them the opening,” Luna said. “Ancro and Stigandr do not seem like the individuals that do well when angered. And it doesn't seem like they'd actually hurt anypony.”

---
        “Shining Armor,” Cadence said to her husband as she snuck up behind him. He had been sulking around rehearsing his speech about how sorry he was. She could tell from the somber look in his eyes.
        Cadence didn't need to hear it, she put a wing up to his mouth to prevent him from talking. She already knew it was eating him inside. Cadence knew him better than anypony including his sister. She knew he blamed himself for hitting her, and for her being in a dangerous situation to begin with. The princess could already hear him apologizing for going to visit Twilight and not personally escorting her to and from Ancro's cell. She looked him deeply in the eyes.
        Shining Armor tried to apologize for so much. This was his second time failing to protect her. Yet every time he tried to open his mouth to speak Cadence would silence him with a glance. She gestured for him to follow by her side as they walked the familiar path to their room. He hadn't slept in it for what felt like weeks though. Granted he hadn't slept at all since he hit her.
        When they arrived she closed the door. Shining Armor saw this as his opportunity to start his apology. Cadence cut him off with a kiss. With that he knew all was well and all was forgiven.

---
        “Stop!” A guard shouted at him. He didn't do anything wrong though, he just wanted to play. They had locked him up for playing too. Some of his playmates had broken and they blamed him for it. He didn't do it, they just couldn't keep playing at the pace he did so he had tried to help them. The friends in his head kept telling him that if he hurt them they'd be able to play again. However that got them playing and they started to play tag. His friends said to play tag with sharp things and to tag them with those. But when he tagged them they wouldn't tag him back. How selfish. They'd sit there and whine and scream. So in order to explain the rules to them a bit further he kept tagging them and tagging them until they broke.
        Then he had to go find a new friend to play with. ‘Cause while they were good for ideas and talking and for helping him in hide-and-seek, the friends in his head weren't good for playing any games. Speaking of hide-and-seek, maybe he could play that with the guards. After all, the other guards were nice enough to let him out of the prison. Those nice black ponies even opened the cell for him. Granted he needed to borrow someponies armor to sneak out but the black guard with the buzzing wings had been nice enough to leave a broken guard with his armor on. All he had to do was put on the armor and he had been able to sneak out once they cleared the entrance of course. It was lots of fun.
        “Playtime stop!” The guard shouted again as more followed him. Wow this guard was silly, that's not how you play tag and he wasn't letting him play hide-and-seek. They were not playing fairly at all. He saw the shadow of a pegasus go over him. Maybe that guard would play tag? Oh she looked real pretty. With the orange mane she looked almost like that Spitfire Wonderbolt. He'd definitely play with her when he got the chance. She looked fast. He wondered how fast and spread his wings so he could fly after her. He didn't like using them, it didn't seem fair to earth ponies and unicorns he wanted to play with but this was a pegasus and he could play with her quite well with his wings. She stayed over him and kept getting closer and closer.
        She was trying to force him down. He did that to a pegasus playmate before. He didn't get the rules of tag and kept running after he tagged him. It made him so angry. He broke him on purpose. Suddenly she kicked him.
        He smiled she liked to play rough he kicked her back and flew off as fast as he could. She was it. She closed the distance on him and tackled him. They tumbled into a cloud. Now they were wrestling? Playtime felt confused, they were playing tag and now they were wrestling. Those had happened before but only with him doing the tagging and after his playmates refused to play. He then saw what was on her hip. Shackles! If she put those on him he couldn't play anymore? He'd go back to that place where ponies wouldn't play with him and if he started to play he'd be put in time out. He hated time out. They also talked to him like they were convinced they could help him. How could they help him when there was nothing wrong?
        Desperately he looked down and saw more guards all with shackles. They weren't going to play like her, he knew it. He managed to break free and tag his new pegasus playmate in her face. Before he could completely get away though she managed to tag him again. He knew he should have said 'no tag backs.'
        With her stunned he was able to take off into the busy streets of Canterlot. He just needed a safe place to hide until he got a chance to follow her and tag her back. His head friends said to use something pointy to tag her and he was going to listen to them. They hadn't done him anything wrong before.

---
        Ancro fiddled with the tassel on his fez while brainstorming with the rest of his friends on how to narrow down the list of suspects.
        “Does anyone else feel like we are playing Clue?” Ancro asked as they looked at the notes Stigandr had made, writing in Equestrian was a pain. Scott tried to write in English but to no real avail. All three of them together couldn't begin to write it out. It was extremely slow and frustrating. At one point Ancro and Scott got in a yelling match with the ceiling while Stigandr caught up on taking notes with his mouth.
        “I hate Clue,” Scott grumbled. “Honestly why the hell can't we write in English? Why! Worst case they think its some kind of code we came up with. Why the hell can't we write in English!”
        “I don't know either,” Ancro said, forcing his irritation into humor. “If it's worth anything though, Stigandr's penmanship is better than mine was back on earth.”
        “That's not what matters. What matters is that whatever the hell cosmic entity, multiversal laws, or things that made it so we can't talk also makes it so we can't write.” Scott said, “I figured we couldn't write down all the things about our world and crap but c'mon why the hell can't we write in English to speed this up?”
        “Honestly I'm a bit surprised we haven't come across this before. Its just like reading before we got to the library,” Ancro laughed.
        “What a load of help you are,” Scott said. “You and Stigs both are seeing this as some vacation! I'd rather go on vacation in a warzone. At least I'd know who was planning to shoot me!”
        “Why do you want to get shot?” Ancro said, cocking an eyebrow.
        “I got shot at with fireballs, I think that may count,” Scott said “Also nearly drowned. Yet you, Stagandr, and now some random changeling beat the tar out of me so I can get better at fighting; back on Earth I didn't have a need for it! Let's not forget that we are now illiterate and can't talk about all the crap that happens and we can't get home. Just cause you can't stand your family doesn't mean I want to stay here the rest of my life.”
        “Feel better?” Ancro said. He knew Scott's temper could get out of control and now he was just egging on the griffin to vent. Scott would keep it bottled up until some unwitting pony pushed the wrong button and set him off. Honestly, if there was anything Ancro was good at it was being a verbal punching bag to some angry person. Typically one of his adopted sisters but you take what you can get. Ancro just tuned out Scott's tirade as the griffin continued to scream. He really needed to get some anger management classes. That can't be healthy to his anything.
        “Scott, focus now, get angry late,” Stigandr said, setting the quill down. “We need to think, what would the spy be?”
        “They need to hide in plain sight,” Ancro said, “means they'd probably pick lighter colors like blue.”
        “So now every blue pony is a target?” Scott rolled his eyes.
        “Well narrows down the list somewhat,” Ancro said. “Also blue or gray or hell any neutral colors that our eyes tend to skip over.”
        “You just narrowed it down then expanded the list again,” Scott said. “What about occupation? What would the spy do?”
        “Well they'd have to sneak around easily.”
        “Also go unnoticed,” Ancro said. “Who can go room to room without being noticed?”
        “Like a maid?” Scott said. “So we are looking for a blue or neutral color pony with a maid outfit.”
        “Scott, that makes perfect sense.” Stigandr said.
        “Awesome. No dungeon deportation deep dark pit for the Triumvirate.” Ancro said happily just as Twilight walked in.

---
        “So you three were finally able to profile the spy,” Twilight said as she examined Ancro's armored form.
        “Yep and, wow, we did it in record time,” Ancro said. “Of course what do you expect, I am perfect after all.”
        For a moment Twilight was tempted to hit him. He knew it was all three of them who came up with the profile. He knew it too, he just stood in the back quietly while Stigandr filled her in. Now here he was taking all the credit.
        “I'm a bit curious Ancro,” Twilight said after a moment of her picking at some of the chitinous armor. To her surprise it evaporated as soon as it broke off. “How are you able to hold your head up with such an over inflated ego?”
        “Easily,” Ancro smiled. “So where's Entomology?” Ancro felt it best to keep tabs on her.
        “She had to run to her apartment and take care of a few things,” Twilight said absently.
        “Neat,” Ancro said. He needed to ask her a few minor things next time he talked to her. Like how to do that two horned business that they had in the prison. Also if it was possible if he could make himself explode. Not that he wanted to, but if he could do it on accident.

---
        “Sorry I'm late,” Firecracker said she landed outside the restaurant where Shift worked. “Guard business.”
        “It's alright,” Shift said, smiling at her. “We can still have time to get a bite to eat.”
        “Okay,” she said and followed him to one of the restaurants that was still open.
        “I saw you flying today, by the way,” he said absently. “You looked like a filly who had lost her pet. Did you lose Celestia's pet while you were out walking it?”
        “Nothing so simple,” she fumed. “A piece of trash pony who escaped during the prison riots got away.”
        “What do you mean?” Shift asked.
        “Damn. I let that slip,” She replied. “It's best if you forget it, I don't want to start a panic.”
        “Don't worry. I'm great at keeping secrets.”
        “Yeah but its not your flank on the line if you let the secret out,” she said. “Just be on the look out for a white pegasus with a blonde mane and a slide for a cutie mark. If you see him, call a guard.”
        “Okay,” he said. He didn't have to ask any more questions. In the short time he spent in the prison he had become familiar with the pony she was talking about. Needless to say if that pony was in changeling society he would've been put down a long time ago. Or he'd be promoted to a praetorian.
        “Your rainbow maned friend came back today,” he smiled, changing the subject once he tasted she was depressed. “Looked like she got into a fight.”
        “Yeah she did,” Firecracker responded.
        “Is that why you have a bruise on your face?” he asked. He assumed that they had made nice, but he couldn't be sure. Changelings could hold grudges for an exceptionally long time, it differed from one to another.
        “No, that was the thing I'm not allowed to discuss. She got into a fight at the palace,” she said in such a way telling him not to push it further.
        “Well here we are.”
        “Ooh classy,” she joked and walked with him to browse the menu. It was a simple menu with simple taste. Shift, however, had to play that he was working on a budget when in reality he had a small fortune saved up. One of the benefits of not needing to eat. They made their order and sat down to enjoy their date.

(Hope you all enjoyed it and as always feedback is appreciated and welcomed. Big thanks to my editors Tuv, Pon Katt, Tsujin Rilauco, Abyx4433. Thanks to my artist Sara for making the cover art for this story. Sorry if my updates have been irregular that's been the state of my life recently. Hard to believe I'm coming up on a year of writing this story too. Very rarely can I keep my attention span focused on a single story for this much time. Thanks for reading!)
> Royalty, horns, taste test.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 26







        “I had fun,” Firecracker said as they flew to her quarters. She still had her own room because technically she was still assigned to guard Princess Cadence, even though Cadence had also technically dismissed her. She wasn't going to knock the bureaucratic perks though. If nopony shows up to kick her out with official papers she wasn't planning on moving.
        “I'm glad,” he said. “I was especially glad that they didn't throw us out after we stayed for a half hour after closing.”
        “Well the owner lives upstairs so it's not like he was in a hurry to get home.”
        “Hey Firecracker!” The pegasus recognized the voice of Hoplon. She turned to see the large earth pony cantering towards them. “We're going to be on search duty tomorrow. Who's your friend?”
        “This is Shift,” Firecracker said, “he's a waiter at Choix.”
        “Hello,” Hoplon said, “nice to meet you.”
        “Nice to meet you too,” Shift replied shaking his hoof. He tasted concern, confusion, aggravation, and a bit of rage coming from the earth pony. Shift couldn't tell if he was jealous or just as protective as his cutie mark indicated.
        “Firecracker, you need to get some rest,” Hoplon said. “We are going to be busy tomorrow.”
        “Alright, night,” she said then as if on impulse she turned on her hooves and gave Shift a kiss. Then before the door closed. “C'mon it's not like you were gonna do it.”
---
        On Shift’s way home a cloud formation caught his attention.  Something about it was off. He knew he felt something in there. Something almost joyful and foalish. Before he could examine it further, another presence from behind caught him completely off guard.
        “Wow someling's playing a dangerous game.” The emotional scowl showed more than the tone ever dreamed to betray.
        “Hi Specs,” he said, acknowledging his sister's surprise visit. She was in a gray pegasus form that she much favored. Most likely out stretching her wings; being cramped in a unicorn form could be exceptionally annoying.
        “What in Tartarus is wrong with you?” She asked, “do you have any idea how easily you could get killed?”
        “Yes I do,” he replied. “It's just-”
        “I told you to get yourself a meal,” she continued, “not find a wife and endanger yourself or anyling else. Did it not occur to you that I'm in the palace risking my life to protect you and our friends? If you get yourself revealed it will risk all our lives!”
        “Thank you for once again pointing that out to me,” he said, “It's not like every other ‘ling we work with hasn't told me. It's not like I can't taste the fear in them every time a pony walks in. If this happens we are dead. If that happens we are dead. I know! I know damn well that a large party close to closing could easily be Praetorian about to kill us all. I know that it would be far too easy for something to fall and reveal me you or anyone else.
        “You don't think I wonder if somepony will notice that I never have groceries, or that somepony may come in and see just how bare my apartment is. I'm well aware of the danger. I'm just tired of living like it. If I'm going to die I'd rather it not be cowering in the basement while the guards beat down the door.”
        “Are you really being this stupid!”
        “I've already ordered some things for my apartment,” he replied. “I'd also like it if sometime in the future you can come by and visit with her.”
        Specs' rage left her speechless. She was risking her life dodging praetorians to train an uneducated changeling and griffin.  Meanwhile, her brother was being stupid enough to consider inviting a royal guard over to his apartment. She spared a glance at the cloud formation after her brother flew off in a huff. His attention seemed to be drifting to it for some reason. She turned away from it after not sensing anything. Maybe dating a guard was making her brother paranoid.

---
        A lone guard walked into the prison. He had the look of a young recruit, and several had noticed. Yet none said anything about it. After all, at his rank he couldn't be anything more than an errand colt. His ID checked out, as well as his knowledge of all the necessary words and phrases to allow him to pass. He didn't show any suspicious behaviors.
        Deeper and deeper into the caverns he went until he reached maximum security. He walked right past the guards stationed outside the cell. All it took was flashing a letter signed by Shining Armor. Getting his signature hadn't been easy but their spy had taken care of it. Once inside he saw a horrifically scarred changeling lying chained and shackled behind a dark blue barrier. With Shining Armor off duty Luna had taken to providing the barrier spell that was going to keep the changelings contained.
        “You are not here to kill me,” he rasped, signifying that his lungs had also been scarred terribly by whatever had burned him.
        “Its not my task,” he said. “That falls to the ones outside. I'm here for information on the changeling and his friends.”
        “Tactical or psychological?” he responded.
        “Both.”
        “Tactically they are inexperienced, but resourceful,” he said, “the changeling has knowledge of chemicals and is a clever strategist. However, he is brash, inexperienced, and rushes into situations, even if its not to his favor.
        “The unicorn has the discipline the other two lack. His mind and his emotions are tempered for combat. He can be just as resourceful as the traitor but I also felt a bit of indecisiveness in his actions.
        “The griffin is overly cautious in combat, preferring to keep his distance and rushing in when an opening presents itself. He is ill disciplined, a poor strategist but a decent tactician. ”
        “It seems they were able to defeat you,” the other praetorian said looking him dead in the eyes.
        “I underestimated them and mistook alive for unharmed,” he said, “I'm aware I will still die by the hooves of the changeling behind that door, but I wished to offer my defense.”
        “It's noted,” the changeling said
“This is fairly obvious,” The scarred praetorian said with a sadistic grin, “if you are having trouble dealing with him, his friends should make excellent bait.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” The other said heading towards door. The other commander was correct it was obvious. Although with the changeling’s guard infiltrated it shouldn’t be that difficult to kill him and leave before anypony is the wiser. If everything went according to plan the praetorians would even have some time left to torture him.
---
        “Scott you are more than welcome to play us in a game of chess,” Ancro said, noticing his friend's boredom. He offered to teach him on multiple occasions. He and Stigs always played neck and neck but his friend would always edge ahead. To this day he had never beaten them. However, their games would typically end up in the twenties when moves were concerned.
        “No, chess is too complex for me,” Scott said, “I prefer the table top strategy games like Battletech, 40k, and Dystopian Wars.”
        “Have it your way then,” Stigandr said, chuckling at the idea of chess being too complex.
        “Clever move,” Ancro complemented, “you'll probably get mate in five turns.”
        “You sell yourself short,” Stigandr replied. “You have a few ways out of it.”
        There was a knock at the door and it shortly opened. Twilight entered the room looking more pleasant than she had in the days that the Triumvirate had been under her watch.
        “You catch the spy?” Scott asked. Ancro and Stigandr gave her a nod to let her know that they acknowledged her in the room.
        “Not yet but hopefully the information you gave us will narrow down the list,” she said, then examined the chess board. Ancro figured she already figured out how to beat Stigandr.
        “How much you want to bet the Element of magic can beat you at chess?” Ancro teased. “I guarantee she'll do better than me.”
        “There you go again at playing yourself down.” Stigandr said, “And I would like to play a game with her.”
        “Maybe later,” Twilight said.
        “Everything alright Twilight?” Ancro asked distantly while fiddling with a knight. “You feel distracted.”
        “Nothing you can help with,” she replied. “Anyways I came by to let you all know that the three of you will be in the lab tomorrow for experiments.”
        “What kind of experiments?” Ancro asked.
        “I'm experimenting with ways to track changelings while they are disguised,” she said. “If I can maybe construct a device to scan them we may be able to locate the spy. Especially since you all narrowed down the list.”
        “We'd be glad to help,” Stigandr said as he moved his piece to counter Ancro's clever use of the knight.
        “How big is it going to be?” Ancro said, “Do you plan for it to detect something as abstract as love or magic?  We could always go with a swift kick to the head.”
        “Umm...” Scott said, “Couldn't we just get a buffet and have everypony eat while Ancro watches?”
        There was a stunned silence in the room. Not only was that idea good it was damn near brilliant.
        “Why didn't I think of that?” Stigandr and Twilight said simultaneously while Ancro hit himself on the forehead for forgetting such a basic fact.
        “Well I guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow,” Ancro said with a chuckle. “Don’t suppose you can up my security for that as well?”
“Why?”
“Hey it’s his neck that’s going to be on the line,” Scott said sounding agitated. “If the changeling spy goes for him he needs to have as much protection as possible.”
“What I was thinking,” Stigandr said, “Also may help if you can remove the ring from his horn.”
“I’m not going to let him be in anymore danger than necessary,” she said. “I will double his guard but I refuse to allow his ring to be taken off.”
“Then you are putting him on a bullseye,” Scott said.
“There will be guards watching his and everyponies every move.” She said, “This isn’t like the ring where both princesses as well as dozens of guards were there in case things got out of hoof.”
“Yes and nothing got out of hoof,” Scott argued. “You all seem to think we are evil criminal masterminds!”
“In the ring he couldn’t get away,” She said. “Here it will be easy for him to sneak off and change and get away.”
“You still have us so why does it matter,” Stigandr said. “He’s not going to be able go far without us.”
“Guys,” Ancro said after taking a deep breath and putting on his best arrogant smile “I have no problem going in powerless,” he held up a hoof before Scott could say anything. “Think about it, if I die because of what Twilight does you guys get the rights to put that guilt on her for a very long time. Honestly it’s not like the changeling could just get one lucky shot off kill me before anything else happens and Twilight’s left with that guilt for the rest of her life.” He looked her hard in the eyes. He hated being so blunt when it came to manipulation but it was the best he could hope for.
“I’ll think about it.” She said before slowly walking off.
---
        “You okay, Entomology? Something seems to be bugging you,” Ancro asked while she strapped him up to the equipment in the lab. He put special emphasis on bugging. She was going murder him long before the praetorians got a hold of him if only everyling she cared about wasn't being threatened. Add in she still had to get these two idiots in shape to escape praetorians and the annoying fact that Ancro was very much a morning person.
        “It's nothing that concerns you.” She said as she removed the ring from his horn.
        “Actually things that don't concern me are areas of expertise,” He replied, “I'm an excellent listener, and talking about it can be therapeutic.”
        “If you don't shut up I'll gag you,” She replied.
        “Careful you may get an ulcer,” he said with the wise ass smile. Instantly she levitated a cloth from one of the tables and tied it around his muzzle, tight.
        “Is Ancro being more annoying than usual?” Twilight said as she walked into the lab with Scott and Stigandr directly behind her.
        “Wow Ancro, for once you look speechless,” Scott said.
        “I believe he may be without words,” Stigandr added. Then facehoofed. “His puns are contagious.”
        “Do we have to gag the rest of you?” Entomology growled.
        “Entomology, is everything alright?” Twilight asked. She hadn’t known her for long but she seemed to be a bit more timid than that.
        “Yeah,” she said, “Just a rough night's sleep, have a bit of a migraine.”
        The ever inquisitive Twilight looked at her but decided not to pry. Ancro tasted the lie immediately and glanced over to his friends to let them know there was more to it than that.
        “What you told me about experiment on Scott yesterday made me realize that we do not have any idea the rate of which love is gathered or how it is spread about throughout the rest of the changelings body. We know it goes to crisis areas and that more energy is pumped to those areas during times of extreme stress. It's their fight or flight response.”
        “Which is why to say if Ancro's ribs were to be broken now they'd take hours to heal, but in a more stressful situation like combat they'd take minutes.”
        “Exactly,” the lavender unicorn replied. Ancro could actually visualize Specs taking a sledgehammer to his ribs while he was strapped down like this. He needed to back off her a teeny bit. 
        “So that's how I healed from the concussion in the laundry room,” Ancro said.
        “Yes the brain and other vital organs get priority,” Specs said the hurriedly added, “Most likely.”
        “And the quicker you heal the energy it uses. Not just a faster rate that is expended but the amount used increases exponentially.”
        “Makes sense,” Scott said mentally comparing it to using afterburners on a jet. “Does this mean you won’t be putting a bullseye on Ancro’s back?”
        “If we can track where the love is going than we might not have to.”
        “I wonder if certain acts of affection can speed up the process?” Entomology said.
        “It may be the extremely close proximity as well,” Twilight added. “Or a combination of both.”
        “It sounds like first thing you will have to do either way is build something that detects love,” a regal voice said from the doorway. Ancro winced and groaned slightly as he felt the wave of power wash into the room just before he could get his blocks up.
        “Cadence, what are you doing here?” Twilight said bowing low, barely containing her excitement at seeing her sister-in-law.
        “I decided to come by and check up on you,” she said in a sisterly tone.
        “I see you found a way to shut him up,” another voice said.
        The changeling waved a hoof at Shining Armor as he walked through the door behind Cadence. Scott moved to get between his friend and the pony who in their last encounter beat one of his best friends to near death. Stigandr stood by, curiously watching. With Ancro gagged he couldn't do a lot to antagonize anypony. Even though Ancro wouldn't be bothering him on purpose. He made it a point not to be malicious but occasionally he just managed to piss someone off. Even if he did piss them off he'd forgive them.
        Ancro always saw the justification in someones actions. It was part of the reason he couldn't hold a grudge or stay mad at anyone. His friend had come to the conclusion that people and ponies alike were prone to making emotionally charged mistakes and since he healed he considered it a no harm no foul situation. Since he discovered that he healed quicker he'd probably be willing to forgive a lot more offenses.
        Shining Armor walked up to the gagged changeling and looked him dead in the eye and extended his hoof, “Thank you for saving my wife from the changelings.”
        Ancro took the hoof and shook it. Stigandr saw the subtle motions of Ancro getting ready to lunge in for one of his hugs. However before he committed to the maneuver the changeling stopped. Stigandr let out sigh of relief when he saw his friend wasn't going to do something that would get them into trouble. He was starting to think that Ancro was pressing their luck.
        “Twilight would you like to join Shining Armor and I for dinner tonight?” Cadence asked, snapping Shining Armor and Ancro out of their staring contest.
        “Of course. Where are we eating?”
        “Choix,” Cadence said. Specs wanted to scream. Why couldn't they eat at the palace like normal VIPs and not go and give her brother and friends migraines from being overloaded by the presence of the element of magic, her brother, and an alicorn? She was feeling a bit glad about being there to cover for them but wished she could punch the bastard who was threatening them.
        “Yes, I'd love to join you all,” she said. “I ate there yesterday and the food and service were amazing.”
        Ancro felt the gag wrapped around his muzzle slip off and fall to the ground. Scott had been kind enough to use one of his dexterous talons to untie the thing.
        “Thank you Scott,” Ancro said. Then looked to Shining Armor, “Glad to have you in a better mood Shiny.”
        “I didn't say I like you,” he said. “I was thanking you for saving my wife.”
        “Yeah and you didn't have to thank me for doing the right thing,” Ancro said. “Although it is appreciated.”
        “What is your deal?” Shining Armor asked. “You are polite but also an arrogant ass.”
        “It's because I'm-”
        “Don't say perfect,” Scott growled from beside his friend. If Ancro said he was perfect one more time the griffin was going to be short a shape shifting friend.
        “I wasn't going to,” Ancro replied in mock shock, “I was going to say bipolar.”
        “I can tell.” Shining Armor said rolling his eyes.
        “Not as bad as I used to be,” Ancro said with a laugh.
        “That's hard to believe,” Twilight said rolling her eyes. She had apparently been listening to both conversations.
        “Trust me it's true,” Scott said remembering multiple incidents in High School. Not fun incidents. One involved a pencil being stabbed in someones neck.
        “So we are meeting up at 7 to eat?” Twilight said swapping the conversation back to the alicorn.
        “Yes,” Cadence nodded as she and Shining left the room. “We'll meet you there.”
        “Look forward to it,” Twilight said and she levitated the ring off Ancro's horn. “Okay Ancro I'm going to need you to turn into somepony so that I can examine the spell again.”
        
---
        
        “I don't trust him.” Hoplon said to Firecracker as they got lunch in the mess hall.
        “That's what you say about everypony you meet,” Firecracker said before balancing her and Hoplon's tray on her wings and walking towards two openings on a table. “Even me when we first met. Face it, you are paranoid.”
        “I'm not paranoid I'm cautious,” he said defensively.
        “...No, I think you are paranoid,” she said.
        “I stood by you when other ponies thought you had been swapped out for a changeling.”
        “And I appreciate it,” she said setting the trays down. “But honestly assuming the worst of my coltfriend? That reeks of one of two things.” She eyed him and smiled. “Unless there is something you want to tell me.”
        “Please,” he retorted, not taking the bait. “I'd rather it be my sister.”
        “So you are paranoid.”
        “I'm not paranoid,” he said in a softer tone, “I just want you to be careful. I can't shake the feeling that he's hiding something.”
        “Fine, I'll be careful,” she said. “If I'm not guarding princesses or looking for serial killers I'm making sure Shift isn't a changeling.”
        “You could knock him out and see?” Hoplon suggested then took the blow to the back of the head. “Kidding.”
        “You better be,” she replied. “I've got enough stress on my plate today. Escorting Ancro around the palace is going to be pain enough.”
        “Wow, who did you tick off?”
        “Nopony, Shining Armor is putting me in charge of his guards,” she said, trying to word it in such a way that made it sound like he was still a prisoner. “It's only temporary though. Most likely seeing if I'm fit for command.”
        “He testing you for promotion too?”
        “Well somepony has been keeping secrets from me,” she said.
        “I'm in charge of the escort for the unicorn.”
        “Well I guess I'll see you on duty after all.”
        “Yes and in our down time we can talk about your colt friend problems.” A tray hit him on the back of the head. “Kidding.”
---
        Playtime did not like waiting. He did like having found a playmate who was so busy all the time working. He wanted to run up to her and tag her as soon as he saw her from his cloudy vantage point. His head friends told him it would be a bad idea. There were too many unfun guards and the last thing Playtime wanted to happen was to go back.
        He didn't want those ponies to tell him he was broken like some toy again. He also didn't want other ponies tagging him so often and so hard. Granted he'd always get them back afterwards. That was how you played tag after all.
        “Hey are you napping on the job?” A voice spoke into the cloud. Playtime poked his head through hoping it wasn't a guard. He wasn't sure if he could get away from them. He was relieved to see it was just some rainbow maned pegasus.
        “I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to,” Playtime always hated talking to other ponies. He'd stammer and stutter and it made him feel embarrassed.
        “Whoa calm down,” the pegasus said. “I don't work at the palace, I just don't want any ponies getting in trouble. Believe me I take my share of naps as well.”
        “I'm sorry,” he said in a voice that almost squeaked. “I was just tired a-and fell asleep.”
        Why was she putting him on the spot like this? He liked to play, he just couldn't introduce himself or deal with new ponies well. He'd find them and play a game of tag with them and that was it. There wasn't a lot of talking in tag. His head friends were getting angry. He always hated when they got angry. They kept telling him to tag but he kept telling them to stop because he'd get caught. With all the guards below them it wouldn't take long for them to catch him.
        “Like I said it's okay,” she said. “I'm not gonna get you in trouble but the day is supposed to be sunny an-”
        The pegasus that was in clouds took off towards the city before Rainbow Dash could continue, leaving the cyan pegasus confused.
        “Wow, nervous much?” she said to herself.
---
        Celestia had taken Luna's place in the Library so that her sister could rest. They had many books on magic and many subjects of magic. However, she never seemed to find what she was looking for. As well as anypony knowing anything about a group of mercenaries called the Triumvirate or any pony looking for a book on what would amount to magic that was a waste of time. A few tables over the, Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, read through several books on the subject of ravens. Celestia never considered her to have interest in ornithology. She was also mildly curious as to why she continued to pour herself into a book on riddles from time to time. She hadn't even known that the Canterlot library had an encyclopedia on riddles.
        “Celestia,” an arrogant voice said from behind the princess, “please enlighten me as to why you have three known criminals gallivanting around the palace.”
        “I have my reasons Blueblood,” she replied. She had been hoping to avoid this discussion in the first place. She loved her distant nephew dearly, having seen a potential in him at a young age and letting him explore it. He had become quite a useful and efficient administrator, however this had made him exceptionally cocky and arrogant. Believing himself to have the talent to rule with more authority than he should be given. She wouldn't mind it as badly if this hadn't led to constant questions of her authority and several failed attempts to take a bit more than he was prepared for.
        “I would very much like to know,” he said. “They broke into your palace, assaulted your guards and your Elements of Harmony, caused a prison riot with several prisoners still being unaccounted for, and most recently the changeling turned your palace into his own personal sparring ring. These are hardly the actions of a prisoner. Keeping them in anything but the most secure cell seems to be...” Celestia counted the seconds as he searched for a word that wasn't demeaning, “Unwise.”
        “Yes it does seem a bit unwise,” she said. “However, where you see a chance for punishment, I see a chance to learn.”
        “Learn what?” He said, “I've been privy to your pe- I mean, faithful student’s reports and it all looks as though we can learn nothing more from them. Changeling's cannot detect each other while disguised. They can heal from all but the most grievous of wounds.”
        “Learn of a new type of friendship.” She said, “to teach them that they can help us. I'm not foalish. I know that if there is one that is following their queen there are more.”
        “So you want to lure out those those parasites?!” he said in shock. “You would want to treat them as equals after all that they did?”
        “You act as though I plan to invite their queen over for lunch,” she said dryly.
        “They trapped you in a cocoon!” He stomped, forgetting that he was in a library.
        “I'm curious Blueblood, you were not in Canterlot when the changelings attacked. Why is this so important to you?”
        “They are vile disgusting parasites,” Blueblood huffed. “Honestly after the way I've heard the one you've kept in the palace is treating you, I'm amazed he is allowed to stay anywhere but in a cell.”
        Celestia chuckled, “Yes he has acted disrespectful, but he meant no harm by it.”
        “What do you mean?”
        “You have not met with him,” Celestia said. “If you did you'd have a bit more of an understanding.”
        “Words cannot express my joy that I haven't had to deal with him.”
        “That shall have to be fixed then,” Celestia said with a smile.
---
        “So I just heard the best bit of news,” Discord said to the Triumvirate.
        “They've figured out who we are and we can discuss it openly and get to work on going home?” Ancro said jokingly. He didn't really want that to be the answer. Yeah mortal danger and all that but still it wasn't like he'd ever get another chance at being here.
        “No,” Discord said flatly, “You guys are going to get a royal observer during interrogation.”
        “So which princess is going to give Whiskey Bravo a migraine?” Scott asked moving a piece on the chessboard. He agreed to play if he could call Ancro by that. The changeling was reluctant to go along but with all the hell he gave him, he decided to just let his friend have a chance.
        “I'm surprised you can say it with other ponies listening.”
        “What does Whiskey Bravo even mean?” Discord asked. “I spent some time browsing your internet but really nothing of any true significance came up.”
        “It's military letters,” Scott said. “So they don't risk words being misheard or confused through an accent. It also serves to provide some secrecy for special ops.”
        “Interesting,” Discord replied, but his tone said otherwise. “Anyways your royal escort tomorrow is,” he started laughing.
        If Ancro was able to change his skin's color he would've. It would've gone pale. “Is it a certain unicorn?”
        “Why yes it is.”
        “Fuuuu,” Stigandr said. “I really hope his attitude has improved since his last appearance.”
        “From what I've gathered it hasn't,” he said, smiling like the damn cheshire cat. “He's also a bit of the aggressive find, destroy, and slaughter all the changelings camp of thought.”
        “And I thought you guys said ponies were peaceful and forgiving,” Scott said folding his fore arms while laying on the ground.
        “Not the first time I've been wrong,” Ancro shrugged.
        "I figured I'd just stop by before I left and give you all the good news," Discord said, “Have the best of luck with Blueblood.”
        “Scott,” Stiggandr said after Discord had left. “Checkmate.”
        “What? How?!”
---
        Screwball had been waiting at the frigid border of the Crystal Empire waiting for her father’s next command. While he had gained considerably more power he was still vulnerable. He needed his daughter’s help and this little filly would do anything for her daddy. She needed to be inside the Crystal Empire’s borders but the stupid heart wouldn’t let her in. Each time she tried she felt it’s magic repelling her. She sulked unable to fully enter and cause the chaos that she loved so much. Her ears lifted themsel
        “Screwball,” She immediately perked up upon hearing her father’s voice. 
        “Daddy!” Screwball said floating over and embracing the much more substantial shadow of her father.
        “Did you find what daddy asked for?” Discord said raising an eyebrow.
        “Yes I did,” She said digging through the snow. “It was in the lair of a sleeping ursa major. I tried to get it to wake up but it wouldn’t get up and destroy stuff.”
        “It’s alright Screwball,” He said as she pulled out the black ivory horn from the snow.
        “What do you need it for, Daddy?” She asked floating up as her father examined the horn.
        “It’s quite dull at the palace,” he said with an evil grin upon his face, “I hope that some fear may spice things up a bit.”

(Sorry it's been a while but my life has been hectic. Luckily with my con season pretty much over and things moving along nicely at school I'll be able to update regularly. I'd like to thank a few people for helping me decide a way to write my way out of a corner. I trust you guys know who you are. Had several ideas (and 10k words of rough drafts and scenes) but ultimately went to them. Also I now have a five chapter buffer put up so the next few updates will be a regular occurrence. As usual thanks for any and all feed back.)

> Princes, Cookies, and Close Calls
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 27



        The next morning, Twilight and Entomology came down and picked up Ancro with, as promised, five more guards, doubling the amount that were following him. Though now their job wasn't to keep him from running away, it was to keep a changeling from killing him. He didn't see this as much of an improvement. Ancro tasted the air and became well aware of the frustration his friends were feeling towards Twilight. The changeling, while a bit upset about the whole thing, wasn't nearly as upset as his friends were. He knew that he would have several living shields in case somling took a shot at him. Then he felt a magical spike directly on his horn and let out a sigh of relief.
        “Would you two mind taking a tour of the gardens?” Twilight asked. “I know you've been trapped inside the palace for a few days and Ancro will be busy for a few hours.”
        “No, we'll go with him,” Stigandr said.
        “Trust us,” Entomology said, “the guards will keep him safe.  If something does happen you two will most likely just be in the way.”
        “No,” Scott said.
        “Guys, trust them,” Ancro said with a small smile, “I'll be fine.”
        “If you both go in there with Ancro there will not be enough room for the guards to protect him effectively,” Twilight said then turned to look at Ancro.
        “Thank you,” Ancro said, keeping a smile on his face. If his friend's knew just how scared he was then they'd never let him do it. Reluctantly they agreed and were escorted to the gardens.
        “Besides, I'll have the element of magic protecting me too, right?” he asked happily.        
        “Unfortunately no,” Twilight replied, “I'm studying geass' and how to release them.”
        “...Okay?” Ancro said, trying to place the word with a definition.
        “You don't know what those are?” Entomology said, raising her eyebrow. Her emotions showed that she had a combination of frustration and embarrassment. Ancro figured it was a changeling thing that he didn't get.
        “I'm familiar with the term but not the meaning,” Ancro replied.
        “It's a type of spell that controls an individual.”
        “Oh!” Ancro said, “like with what Chrysalis did to Shining Armor?” After saying that Ancro felt several twinges of anger from everypony in the room. He typically would've tried to catch that but right now he was nervous. “Entomology will you help?”
        “No I have to document my findings,” she said and tasted the emotional glare Ancro gave her.
        “Blueblood will be observing you,” Twilight said, trying to put a smile on the situation.
        “Seriously, that's my back up?” Ancro asked, “The guy who threw Rarity in front of a cake?”
        “How do you know that?” Twilight asked, filing it in her mental folder of things Ancro knew about them. It was starting to get a bit unnerving what the changeling had considered mostly common knowledge and freely divulged.
        “Long story,” Ancro smiled.
---

        “Okay, she's good,” Ancro said as he waved the maid on.
        “I cannot believe Celestia is having me spend my day with a changeling,” Blueblood said to nopony in particular. It was only Ancro, Blueblood and the guards in the room and Blueblood had already made it a point that he wasn't talking to anypony.
        “I'm not that bad of company, am I?” Ancro calmly quipped towards one of the guards. Dealing with Blueblood was no picnic for him either. As if discovering that oatmeal raisin cookies weren't strong enough to get a good taste on and it helps tremendously if he is feeding off the pony which meant that they had to like him. To add to it the changeling had to deal with the bitter tastes of disdain and anger in his mouth constantly. Ancro took a deep breath and started using his coping mechanism. Plot the best possible way to kill him and get rid of the body. He typically reserved this method for coworkers who don't understand that mixing bleach and draino is a very bad idea.
        “No, you are far worse,” He said. “I'm having to sit in here with you and put up with your voice.”
        “I'm sorry my lord,” Ancro said, egging him on. He swapped his voice to a slightly more effeminate version of Blueblood's, “Does this voice offend you less?”
        “Who is that supposed to be?” he said, glaring at Ancro as if daring him to answer. “You best think before you answer.”
        “You need to develop thicker skin,” Ancro said after sorting out the disdain from the raisins in the cookie. “Next!”
        “As though your opinion matters,” Blueblood huffed. Ancro rolled his eyes as the next pony came in and took one of the cookies. After a short moment Ancro waved her on.
        “Why don't you go cower from a cake?” Ancro said with a chuckle.
        “How did you know about that?” Blueblood asked. Ancro could tell he hit a button, a nice big red one. The guards were enjoying the show at least.
        “I was watching,” Ancro said.
        “Why?  So you could replace somepony there, you cretin!”
        “No, I just enjoy dances and music,” Ancro quipped.
        “Don't expect to fool me so easily,” Blueblood said, looking Ancro dead in the eyes, “just because my aunt is lenient upon you doesn't mean I will be.”
        “Before I ask if you even have any authority to do anything, I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell my insane sister,” Ancro said shifting to meet Blueblood's gaze. Ancro could tell the guy had magic and knew he was about to make a major mistake. “If you plan to do something, do it. Otherwise shut up. Next!”
---
        Scott tried to relax and take his mind off worrying about his best friend being put in danger from the griffin's own plan. Between last night's work-out session with Specs and his own worrying he felt exhausted. Add that to the feeling of utter helplessness to this situation and you get a pissed of griffin with the mouth of a sailor. Granted, he was happy for this respite and slight bit of freedom. Even if it was just to take a turn down whichever direction he chose, it was enough to comfort him. He didn't have Ancro's ability to acknowledge his own powerlessness in the face of events like this. After all, he didn't have to deal with four sisters. Scott only had a little brother.
        “Scott, you are Ancro's best friend right?” Pinkie asked, coming out of thin air, startling him and his escorts. Stigandr had gone to the sculpture section of the massive garden.
        “Yes, don't suppose you've figured out Ancro's riddle yet?” Scott said in a hurry to get rid of her. The meth head pony is the last one he want to deal with.
        “No not yet, but don't worry I'm close to big break in it.  I can smell it.”
        “That's nice,” Scott said and tried to scoot past her. Instead of staying still she bounced along beside him.
        “Anyways,” she said, “I'm just a bit curious as to how you two became friends.” She said, “I mean, he's calm, funny, and polite; you on the other hoof are cranky, grouchy, and a bit of a meany pants.”
        Scott took a deep breath. There was no getting rid of her and he hoped it wouldn't end with him flapping his beak with no sound coming out. “He wasn't always like that.” He said, “he used to be really weird, disrespectful, and a major jerk.”
        “Really,” Pinkie said, “when did you meet him?”
        Recalling the dream from Luna he knew he couldn't say seventh grade. He wasn't sure if he could even say junior high. “Years and years ago.  We've been friends for nine years by my count; ten by his.”
        “Why count them differently?”
        “He counted me as a friend when we first met.” Scott said, “I just counted him as some weird feller who sat across from me during lunch.”
        “What do you mean weird?”
         Scott sighed, “he'd bring up all kinds of weird and pointless bits about history and he'd bring them up at random, stupid, and useless times. Even if he was wrong about it he would argue about it until I showed him proof.” Remembering having to bring his World War II plane encyclopedia to shut him up about baka bombs having machine guns.
        “You are a real good friend then,” Scott nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the extremely soft voice right behind him. Upon turning around he knew his reaction had scared Fluttershy more than she had frightened him.
        “Yeah,” Scott said trying to calm down, “I honestly doubt that sometimes.”
        “Why?”
        “He's in danger because of me right now.”
        “Yeah I know,” Pinkie Pie said, “who do you think helped bake all those cookies?”
        Scott ignored the last half, not quite sure what she meant. “I mean it was my plan so I should be there to, y'know, do something to help.”
        “Scott,” the pink maned pegasus said softly, “you have helped a lot more than you think. You need to be willing to let the guards do their jobs now.”
        “I know but I just, argh.” Scott growled in frustration.
---
        Stigandr browsed through the sculpture garden. He was able to put his mind a bit more at ease, having confidence in his friend and the guards. Still, the unicorn was nervous about the whole situation. Occasionally he stopped to examine a statue for a few moments but quickly moved on. He was looking for a specific statue. Though one could easily admire the effort put into the statues that didn't have omnipotent beings trapped within. Stigandr finally reached the one he had been looking for. Discord's statue was so different from it's first appearance. Instead of being in the middle of what appeared to be a prideful speech and hadn't seen it coming this time he saw it coming and tried his best to fight the inevitable.
        “If you are looking for cracks you won't find any,” Discord's voice whispered into the unicorn's ear. “Those serve as a kind of an alarm that the spell won't hold me any longer. As it stands now though I can't touch it.”
        “That's nice,” Stigandr thought to the voice. “Like the pose.”
        “Yes it is,” he said, “it gives me a bit more power.”
        “So were you watching while you were trapped the first time?” Stigandr asked trying to gather a small amount of information.
        “No, that time I hadn't been expecting such a spell to even exist within my realm.” Discord said and Stigandr could somehow sense him shrugging. “But when you're immortal, what's a millennium of total sensory deprivation? Other than infuriating.”
        “So you were able to guard against it the second time?” Stignadr asked.
        “Not entirely,” Discord said, “think of it as the flu virus.  Each year it's a bit different. If the spell that was used had been the exact same one I would've laughed it off.”
        “You been staring at that statue fer a while,” Applejack said coming up behind Stigandr.
        “Yeah,” Stigandr said, switching conversations, “I'm just admiring your work.”
        “Likely,” Applejack remarked, “with all the trouble your friend stirs up I wouldn't put it past you to get in on it yourself.”
        “Which one are you talking about?” Stigandr smiled.
        “The changeling,” she said, “Scott doesn't cause much trouble.  He's just obnoxious.”
        “While Ancro and I do like to one up each other, even I have my limits.” Stigandr chuckled.
        “Somepony needs to remind your friend that he has them too,” Applejack griped. “He keeps goin’ around sayin’ that he's perfect when everypony else see's dang well that he is not.”
        “And he knows he's not perfect,” Stigandr said. “When he makes a mistake he's going to be the first to admit it. Honestly if you worked with the guy you may enjoy his work ethic.  His mouth, not so much.”
        “Ah don't see how an honest pony like you got wrapped up with them,” she said.
        “Applejack, if you told me back when I first met those two that they were going to be some of my best friends,” Stigandr chuckled, “I would have thought you'd gone crazy.”
        “How did you end up with them as your friends?”
        “We had similar interests and hobbies,” he said. “Besides, if your friends were exactly like you, would you enjoy hanging out with them all the time? Sometimes you need a break from yourself.”
        “I'll give you that,” she said, “but how can you say that I'd enjoy working with that changeling friend of yours?  Work ethic isn't what comes to mind after you guys break into a library and then a prison.”
        “Ancro's said hauling hay was the most fun he's had making money,” Stigandr said. “He loves hard work when given the option for it.”
        “Ahm not gonna have him workin’ on my farm.” She said flatly
        Stigandr laughed, “I'm not asking you to employ him. I'm just saying you should be a bit slower when it comes to judging.”
        “Ah'll keep that in mind,” she replied.
        “Stigandr,” one of the guards said, “there's been an incident and you are needed in the infirmary.”
---
        The line, which had been moving along at a crawl, had picked up the pace. The spy nervously waited for her turn. She wracked her mind for what the test could conceivably be; the ponies were being extremely guarded and secretive about it. She was confident that whatever the princesses cooked up was nothing more than a farce that would give them confidence that the traitor was wrong. He and his friends had already narrowed down the list to various members of the regular palace cleaning crew and several of them had suggested working in pairs. Not impossible, just made going through mail and other papers a major pain since she could only do it briefly before her partner's attention would be drawn. Having a partner would’ve only been a minor setback. She would eventually be able to warp her mind to see nothing out of the ordinary. Then she was told that the partners would be changed daily and at random. Luckily she was only to report if something of interest came up and she could do that at anytime of night. Gathering intelligence was going to be the problem.
        She was called in and there was the traitor, sitting at the table placed in the middle of the room. On the table were cookies. She knew she was beat.
        'One shot,' she thought. 'He'll know me as soon as I take a bite of the cookie. In the moment it takes for him to register, I'll kill him. If I can have one of the guards kill me then I won't have to worry about the punishment the praetorians would have in store for me.'
        Calmly, as though she was sure of her innocence, she took one of the cookies off the table and brought it to her mouth. Before she took a bite she noticed that the traitor had his hooves on the table and was extremely nervous for some reason. She took a bite and immediately transformed.
---
        There was a bright green flash as the changeling appeared in front of them. Two horns atop her head glowed and a fireball launched at the changeling who sat at the table. Having braced himself when he noticed the list starting to get thinner he ducked under the table in time to only lose his horn and dorsal fin thingy. Between the time it took for the guards to get the changeling she fired a second fireball that hit under the table where Ancro had ducked to. It exploded and lifted the table to the ceiling, sending Ancro flying backwards into the wall. Immediately after the fireball, two rings came down onto the spy's horns and she felt her magic blocked off. Then the pegasi and earth pony guards tackled her to the ground. They had to tie her muzzle shut after she bit one of the guards.
        “Inform the princesses of what happened immediately,” Firecracker said to one of the guards under her command. Then turned to Ancro, who was giggling in the corner. “Changeling. are you alright?”
        “Hehehehe, I'm starting to think I can survive anything,” Ancro moved to stand up but found the task excruciatingly painful and promptly vomited and collapsed. Futilely, he tried to steer himself away from the pool.
        “Get him to an infirmary now!” she said and two of the unicorns immediately levitated him to what was left of the table and used their makeshift stretcher to carry him to the infirmary.
---
        “What's happened?” Scott barked to Twilight as he walked into the infirmary. “You said he would be safe!”
        “I'm sorry,” was all she could say before Scott cut her off again.
        “Yeah, you said you could keep him safe!” Scott said. “Now he's in the damn hospital.”
        An orange pegasus guard got between them.
        “Calm down immediately or we will have you removed,” she said in an authoritative tone, “if he hadn't followed my instructions the situation would've been different.”
        “What's going on?” Stigandr asked, running in with two pegasi guards flanking him. “Is Ancro alright?”
        “He's in rough shape,” the guard said. “He followed my instructions to the letter and ducked the second anything fishy came up. If he hadn't he'd be dead.”
        “Can we see him?”
        “Yes you can.”
        “How bad is it?” Twilight asked the guard after his friends had gone in.
        “Not enough to remove his sense of humor,” she replied, not believing that he talked her into this.
        Scott and Stigandr walked into the dark room and saw their friend laying motionless on a bed. As their eye’s adjusted to the dark they saw his horn was gone and so was part of his dorsal fin. His breathing was ragged and occasionally a pop could be heard from a bone setting itself. An occasional beep could be heard in the background as the device that monitored his heart kept track of the slow, rythmic beat. Weakly the changeling rolled over and coughed. Slowly he opened his eyes and extended his hoof upon seeing his friends.
        “Scott, Stigs,” he said with a wheeze, “I have been and always shall be your friend.”
        Scott responded by giving Ancro a left hook to the face. Stigandr's response was to kick the changeling's bed and walking around the room swearing at his friend's terrible joke, but also relieved that he was fine.
        “I deserved that one,” Ancro said reeling from the punch, “but it's not like I'll get another chance at it.”
        “Yeah hopefully you don't you asshole,” Scott said, his loud voice easily going through the walls. “I was genuinly worried about you.”
        “And I'm glad I have friends that do.” Ancro replied, “Also your hook had poor follow through and you hit my skull, from this angle the jaw would've been a preferred shot.”
        “I'll keep that in mind,” Scott said, folding his forelegs.
        “So I'm guessing you found the spy?” Stigandr said through sarcasm.
        “Yeah and she wasn't real happy about it,” Ancro said, focusing on the shattered nub that was his horn and missing fin thingy.
        “So do you still think Equestria is fun happy place?” Scott said hoping that this might set his friends priorities straight.
        “Of course I do Scott,” Ancro said with a wise ass smile, “I never had this much fun at home.”
        “I'm trying to be serious,” Scott replied. “You could've died!”
        “But I didn't,” Ancro replied. “If there's anything I've learned throughout the years it is that killing me can be pretty tricky.”
        “How does it not bother you?” Scott said. “You nearly get you head blown off and start cracking jokes?”
        “It does,” Ancro explained, “I'm just not showing it.”
        “And you say my emotional control isn't healthy.”
        “Humorous apathy and blind anger are two different animals,” Ancro said.
        “Yeah but mine doesn't try to get me killed.”
        “When has my sense of humor nearly gotten me killed?” Ancro said, “this is me coping.”
        “I want you to act like you take it seriously,” Scott replied. “You keep treating this like it's some damn vacation! I don't care how bad your sister's are, they are not taking shots at your head.”
        “Scott,” Ancro said evenly, “you cope by freaking out, I cope by hiding in a shell of jokes and one liners and saying I'm perfect. If I didn't I would be a nervous wreck and unable to do anything.”
        “Yeah but you don't even acknowledge that you were almost killed,” Scott said.
        “I'm going to reply in two parts,” Ancro smirked. “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades and Scott, Stigs, if I let it out and let you guys know anything but comedic quips, I may break down.”
        “And you say I take myself too seriously?” Scott chuckled.
        “Scott,” Ancro said trying to keep the tears out of his eyes, “I tasted her desire to kill me. In the prison they were trying to keep me alive so I used that. If a praetorian comes after me I'll be dead before I hit the floor. I'm powerless before an enemy that's stronger, faster, and more skilled than me.”
        “And now that they actually want you dead,” Stigandr said.
        “It's funny when you can feel how happy that would make them,” Ancro said. “And I was always told that being a people pleaser would get me ahead.”
        “Who told you that?” Scott said.
        “No one,” Ancro said, “was just making another joke.”

---
        “Sorry I'm late,” Firecracker said landing next to Shift. 
        “It's alright,” Shift replied, “from what I've heard you had a busy day at the palace.”
        “Wow, news travels fast in the restaurant world?” she laughed, surprised he had heard of the event already. Then she looked into the restaurant and saw who was sitting at one of the tables. The captain, his sister, and his wife.
        “I'm tempted to go in and ask for my old position back,” Firecracker said.
        “So you've been moved from Cadence's royal guard?” Shift asked as he walked down the streets at twilight.
        “Yeah so I get a pay cut,” Firecracker replied. “It was temporary anyways, until she got back to the Crystal Empire. It came with a promotion so I'm not too upset. Yet.”
        “Well at least you didn't get transferred,” Shift chuckled.
        “Yeah, there are no good restaurants in the Crystal Empire from what I've heard,” she smiled.
        “Maybe I need to talk to my boss about expanding then,” Shift joked. “Did you hear something?”
        “Help me,” a voice under a box said, sounding scared. Firecracker hurried over to help. Shift trotted along right behind her. The changeling felt more glee than fear from under the box. He wrote it off as a foal playing prank. He figured as soon as Firecracker lifted the box he would have a squirt gun or a water balloon, get her and run off. Firecracker lifted the box. There was the glint of the knife and the unmistakable taste of pain, fear, and blood.
        “TAG!” he shouted again as he slashed across her face, the jagged knife having already been stabbed into her leg. Playtime went to stab again. Firecracker had overcome the initial shock and attacked, blocking it at the cost of her wing.
        Shift tackled Playtime. The force behind it knocked the blonde pegasus back a bit but failed to remove the knife from his mouth and drug it through Firecracker's wing. Shift's rage only built from her shriek. The taste of her pain and Playtime's rage distracted Shift a moment too long and the knife ended up going into the green shoulder and with a single motion the crazed pegasus twisted and yanked the serrated blade from helpless pegasus.
        “That is very rude!” he shouted, swiftly stabbing the gasping pegasus in the side. “Wait your turn.”
        Shift heard Firecracker say something. The injured changeling couldn't make it out. Right now he was too focused on healing while keeping his disguise up. He hoped Firecracker would get away because he wasn't sure how long he could hold it like this. All of his senses were blurry; he knew any moment now he'd be revealed. Luckily he had built up quite reserve at the restaurant. He had just as much as he had in the prison when he sent a praetorian flying.
        A yellow and orange blur crashed into the rapidly blurring Playtime. There was a tumble then a groan. Shift turned his head and saw that Playtime stabbed Firecracker. She couldn't heal, like him blood was coming out of her mouth. Shift tackled into the pegasus headlong. He didn't even notice he had changed back.
        Playtime took the curved horn from a changeling in the side. Weakly, Playtime tried to run. However, the injury in his side and a shot of green goo anchored him. He was bleeding badly. His head friend's weren't making sense. He thought the black bug ponies were nice and helped him. Now one was hurting him. He was hurting him bad. He needed to have someone fix the hole in his side.
        Even when enraged it was important for a changeling to keep a cool head. Shift was failing in that regard. The inner sadist that most changelings had in them was loose. Their love for the emotions like fear and sadness could drive one mad if they lost focus. Shift's focus was on one thing, inflicting as much pain on Playtime as possible. He didn't want to kill him, Shift wanted him to suffer.
        Playtime's defense crumbled when Shift bucked him on his injured side. The changeling pulled the serial killer's wing out of socket with a swift motion and followed through by shattering Playtime's jaw. The next thing to break were his forelegs, then his hind legs. Shift followed by channeling power to his forelegs and shattering the pegasus' ribs with a single stomp. Shift was so focused on inflicting suffering upon Playtime that he didn't notice the crowd at the end of the alley. He didn't sense the shield engulf the area around him. He barely noticed the guards tackling him and taking him away.

(Hope you all enjoyed another chapter and thanks for reading. So anyways my teacher is giving me extra credit since I'm proving that yes I am in fact writing something. She was reluctant about it since it is a fan fic but extra credit is extra credit so I'm not complaining. If only my economics professor would give me bonus for this than I'd be set. Anyways thanks to Tsujin Rilauco for editing and such. As usual I like all the feedback I can get since it helps me improve the story for you guys. Again thanks for reading next chapter will be posted Monday of next week!)
> Apologies, ICU, Fear
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 28




        Specs was pissed. No, pissed didn't begin to describe how she felt. Her brother had been caught. His capture had in all likelihood endangered every changeling at the restaurant. How could he be so stupid? He didn't try to use any of his skills to beat Playtime. He just went berserk like some levi recruit who had never tasted fear before. To make matters worse the pony had survived. The bastard had survived and the ponies were doing everything within their power to make sure that that psycho made a full recovery. If there was anything she missed about the changelings, it was their ability to deal with psychopaths.
        Luckily she still had her disguise and could go and visit her brother under the guise of scientific research. Hopefully nopony checked the basement of where her brother worked. In light of this, she figured that they'd just dump the body out of caution. Hopefully in a good place. Dropping it off the waterfall would make sense since nopony would recognize it when it hit the bottom. Specs took a deep breath and decided to take it one day at a time. First thing she was going to do though, was go and see her brother. She figured that her employer would let her know if she wasn't allowed to. Provided that the bastard wasn't behind this to begin with.
        Getting into the prison and to her brother were easy enough. She showed her ID and stayed in character; nopony questioned her guise. Then she was escorted through the prison until she reached the cell where they were holding the new changeling. The most remote chances of freeing her brother were cut down as she observed all of the security measures. Guards working in pairs, multiple checkpoints with safety questions, all visitors being escorted. They most likely fixed the vent so that the parasprites wouldn't work and in all likelihood she would be under observation when she went in to see Shift.
        They had changed some things in the cell since Ancro had been there. For starters, there were bars instead of a shield bubble. Then there was a magic canceling ring on her brother's horn. With Ancro they most likely weren't sure if it would work at all and with his degenerating condition it wouldn't have made any sense, it would be similar to putting shackles on a foal. After all, changelings in their base form without any power are frail and easily broken.
        Her brother emotionally perked up when he felt Specs' presence enter the room. He maintained his disinterested and distant look though.
        “He's just like the rest of them,” the guard said, “hasn't said a word since we brought him in here.”
        'That's because he is being smart and conserving energy,' Specs thought. If he was really smart he wouldn't move for the next few weeks until things calmed down and she could hypothetically convince her fellow deserters that freeing her brother was a good idea. Then all she had to do was come up with a functioning plan to break Shift out. “I don't need him to talk, I just need to take some measurements.”
        The guard nodded in response and walked over to the cell to unlock it. He had shackles ready for after he opened the doors. For a moment Specs considered taking a shot at the guard and seeing if her and her brother could make it out with him disguised. She quickly removed any thoughts of that plan as he wouldn't get past the security posts.
        Shift didn't even move as the shackles were put on him. He didn't even acknowledge that they were there. He continued to sit stone faced, staring at a corner. Somewhat shyly, his sister approached and took out several tools for taking measurements. Quietly, she took the measurements as the guard boredly watched for the slightest bit of movement from the changeling. While not having a spear he did have a nightstick and could probably beat him to a pulp.
        “I'm sorry,” her brother whispered. It was just loud enough for his sister to hear it.
        Once the measurements were done she left. She was escorted out the same way she came in and as soon as she was clear of the prison she found a secluded place and broke down into tears.

---

        Firecracker lay on the bed in the infirmary. It looked like she would pull through with a full recovery, ironically, because of the changeling's first aid. Hoplon had been there as long as he could; he’d tried to get the day off but it was denied. The changeling that they captured had sent ponies into a tizzy. He was needed to help reassure ponies that everything was under control and that changelings were not killing ponies in the streets. If what he thought happened happened he'd like to give that changeling a medal.
       Hoplon's small command patrolled the streets. They were supposed to keep ponies calm and look for trouble. So far the streets seemed deserted, except for a few brave ponies who were walking around. They made it a point to be seen and to avoid being mistaken as anypony but themselves. Changeling hysteria hadn't been this bad since the invasion. At least nopony was being beaten in the street under suspicion. He hoped this would settle down soon rather than blow up further.
        Hoplon hoped if Firecracker ever got over it he would be able to joke that he was right. The changeling comment was meant as a joke though he never figured he was right. He just thought that Shift was a lying dirt bag who was hiding some alternative motive, not an actual changeling doing the last thing he expected a changeling to do.While Shift had saved her, there were unanswered questions: They didn't know if he was part of some grander plan to infiltrate the palace. They didn't know his motivation and if he would tell them that, or give them anything, ponies may be willing to help him, for all they knew he could've been sent there to spy by gaining trust. They had questioned the ponies who owned and worked at the restaurant and they said that his behavior had been unusual lately. They had consistent records going back for years so they had no reason to question their stories.
        There was a shout and scuffle up the street a ways. Hoplon took a deep breath, he was here to protect ponies, not worry about changeling conspiracies. He galloped to the commotion.

---

        Ancro had been sent back to his room after it became apparent that this, like most injuries, would heal best when he was near his friends. By the time he woke up in the morning his horn was already halfway grown and the majority of his dorsal fin that had been lost had grown back as well. To increase the healing speed an agreement was reached: Ancro could keep the ring off his horn, as long as he didn't do anything to bring harm to another pony. This, however, didn't explain why he had gone into Scott's room while the griffin slept.
        “What are you doing?” Scott asked groggily when he awoke to Ancro lifting a decorative vase from his room.
        “Target practice,” Ancro stated plainly.
        “Not only no, hell no,” Scott said, rolling out of bed. “You put that vase back. We just got them to trust us and now you’re screwing it up. Besides, you’re a piss poor shot.”
        “That's why I need the vase,” Ancro joked. “I need to practice.”
        “Why don't you get Specs to fix your eyes so you can actually tell how far away something is?”
        The changeling paused. “Scott I'm scared, you keep having good ideas. Is everything alright?”
        “Just give me the vase.”
        “But I need it to replace mine.”
        “You already blew up a vase!” Scott squawked, “What the hell is wrong with you! How can you be so stupid!”
        “Well it was collateral,” Ancro added, shrugging.
        “Collateral? What the hell were you aiming for!”
        “The bathroom door,” Ancro said shyly.
        “You missed the bathroom door and hit the vase?” Scott said then looked into his friends eyes. “What else did you hit?”
        “Have you ever tried to use a sawed-off sho-”
        “How bad is it?” Scott said cutting him off. “On second thought, I don't want to know. I want plausible deniability. You broke it, you fix it.”
        “Good choice,” Ancro said, continuing out with the vase in his jaws.
        “And give me that!” the griffin said. “It’s like I'm dealing with a five year old.”

---

        “Well, this room is Fubar,” Stigandr said. The central room that Ancro had been living in was a mess of scorch marks and various debris covering everything on one side of the room. Luckily he had avoiding setting it on fire by removing the books from the bookshelf and piling them in front of the door.
        “Thank you, I'm well aware of it,” Ancro said rolling his eyes. “Can you help me fix it?”
        “Sorry. I don't have a broom and dustpan cutie mark, do I?” Stigandr said making a show of turning around and looking at his two pugil sticks.
        “I'd prefer it if you didn't,” Ancro said, “they have a habit of trying to kill me.”
        “Yep,” Stigandr responded, “after seeing this mess I can't blame that changeling maid for trying. Maybe she could see the future?”
        “What happened in here!” Twilight said, coming in through Stigandr's room. A quick glance revealed that his room was full of the bronze clad guards.
        “Stigandr did it!” Ancro shouted and received a quick kick to the ribs for his trouble.
        “Oh no,” the unicorn said. “I walked in here and saw this, this was all you!”
        “Scott did it?”
        “What did you say!” The griffin shouted as he shuffled into the central room to defend himself.
        “He's got some good ears,” Ancro said to Twilight, who was looking like an impatient mother.
        “I want the truth,” she said.
        “I was trying out fireballs with my new horn, but I'm not the greatest shot in the wo-OW!” Ancro recoiled from the shaft of a spear wrapped in purple coming down atop his head. Ancro couldn't say anything, he probably had this coming for a while.
        “What is your problem?!"Twilight shouted. “Do you not think before you do something?!"
        “I'm sorry,” Ancro said, hoping it would keep her from hitting him again. It didn't.
        “No,” Twilight said flaring her nostrils, “I'm going beat some sense into you.”
        “Should we help him?” Stigandr asked.
        “No, he's had this coming for while,” Scott replied and Stigandr nodded in agreement.
        “Is that truly necessary?” Ancro said with smile before the pole came down on his head again.
        The lavender unicorn punctuated every word of her next sentence with a hit to the head. “You. Do. Not. Shoot. Fireballs. And. Damage. Property!”
        Taking a deep breath she looked at Ancro on the ground. She knew she didn't actually hurt him. She hit him hard enough to sting, but not enough to do any actual damage. It was to make a point and she hoped it got across. “Princess Celestia wants to see you three in the throne room.”
        “Feel better?” Ancro smirked, forgetting she was still holding the spear. Twilight made sure the next hit actually hurt.
        “Yes, as a matter of fact I do,” she said with a smile as she walked out of the room with guards right behind her, “we'll be waiting outside.”
        “I think she might be mad at me,” Ancro replied.
        “Ya think asshole?” Scott said, his southern accent making known how mad he was. The griffin looked around the room, “I didn't even think it would be this bad. That vase wouldn't have done shit to fix this.”
        “No, I was just going to use it as a comedic last thing stand,” Ancro replied, “hopefully to soften the blow.”
        “Luckily you are into that freaky masochist stuff,” Scott replied.
        “Yeah but I think I'd draw the line at ponies,” Ancro said. “I mean I love the show and all but there are limits.”
        “Yes but Rule 34 is present and inescapable,” Stigandr said.
        “Except in Equestria, where no internet exists,” Ancro smiled, confident in his defense.
        “I'm not gonna lie,” Scott said, “I could imagine you, as you are now, taking that from domme Sparkle.”
        All three burst out laughing at the absurdity of the image as they headed out the door. Ancro stopped and spent thirty seconds levitating everything but his fez. Then he saw brown engulf it and fly onto his unicorn friends head.
        “Adapt and overcome huh?” Ancro smiled and Stigandr put a hoof to his mouth and made the shushing sound.
        “Are you ladies coming?” Scott shouted through the door.
        “Just a second,” Ancro grew fingers, grabbed the fez Rarity had made for Stigandr and swapped them. He finished by putting his own fez on his head and they walked out into the hall.
        “Scott, think what thou will,” Ancro said, “but fezzes are cool.”

---

        “It is good to see you are recovering Ancro,” Celestia said in her motherly voice. Ancro could sense that she was obviously relieved that the spy had been captured. However, he could tell something else was bothering her. There was pregnant pause as Celestia waited for a comment from Ancro. After nothing came out she continued.
        “Ancro, I require another favor from you now,” she said. “We know that there are changelings in Canterlot and most likely all over Equestria.
        “We caught one last night, disguised as a waiter in a restaurant. He revealed himself after a pony was attacked. All he told us was how he no affiliation to the queen.”
        “Wait a second,” Scott said, Ancro sighed on the inside. “He just risked his life for you guys and now you want him to do it some more? Why should he?”
        “Because I'm too nice for my own damn good,” Ancro said.
        “I mean the least you could do is try to negotiate some money out of it,” Scott said. Ancro could tell money wasn't why Scott was worried. Scott was worried for his friend's safety and well being. Two things Ancro didn't care about when it came to himself.
        “Why? So you could have something to remember me by?” Ancro joked.
        “No, I just don't think you should be risking your life for no reason,” Scott replied.
        “Can we discuss this later?” Stigandr said, being the only one of the three who seemed to realized that they were still in the throne room with Celestia watching. “I swear, you two can argue like an old married couple.”
        “That came to my mind as well,” Twilight said, “It's mildly disturbing.”
        “You should see us when we're running late and I'm trying to get him out the door,” Ancro said in a more serious tone. “It's a pain.”
        “Hey I'm sorry if I try to dress and look nice while you just roll out of bed,” Scott replied.
        “Ahem,” Celestia said again, grabbing everypony’s attention. “Scott, I assure you I would not put Ancro in any more danger than I would feel comfortable putting him in.”
        “How safe will he be?” Stigandr asked. “And how can we help?”
        “He will be allowed to disguise himself and you three will be given room at the palace.” Celestia said, “you can aid him in anyway he needs you.”
        “Thank you,” Ancro said. “Does this mean Stigs gets his ring taken off too?”
        “Of course,” Celestia said then smiled wisely at Stigandr. “If you will do the honors my little pony?”
        “What do you mean?” Twilight asked, “the ring prevents magic from even...”
        “I think Stigandr may have mislead you as to his true talent my faithful student,” Celestia chuckled.
        “Wait, how did you find out?” Stigandr said taking the ring off with slight effort.
        “Luna watches your dreams, even if she doesn't make her presence known,” she said. “She noticed what your actual talent was.”
        “And you kept it a secret?” Ancro said smiling. “Excellent gambit Celestia.”
        “Hopefully this one pays off as well,” Scott mumbled under his breath. “So what happened that you want Ancro to sniff out changelings?”
        “Like I said, a changeling defended a pony,” she said, her head dropping. “He was defending a guard from a very dangerous pony.”
        “Okay,” Scott said, “now you want us to go and find all of the changelings and let them know we won't put them on stakes?”
        “Less gruesome, but yes,” Celestia said. “I'm hoping that with a changeling telling them it will be easier to believe.”
        “Aight, sounds like a plan,” Ancro said and then surrounded himself with green fire. “How do I look?”
        “Like someone put a pegasus and a changeling in a blender and set it to puree,” Scott said, chuckling.
        “I think you may still need to rest,” smiled Celestia.
        “You'll probably scare more ponies than a regular changeling walking around like that,” Twilight added.
        “Aight,” Ancro shrugged, “I'll go rest up.”
        The triumvirate left in much the same manner that they had came except Ancro was adamant to continue looking like that.
        “Princess Celestia,” Twilight said looking to her teacher with a question, “why didn't you tell me that they lied about Stigandr? That seemed dangerous.”
        “Not really, as he said Stigandr is the one who reigns the other two in, besides his magic didn’t truly become strong enough to remove it until today,” Celestia said. “I would never put you in any unnecessary danger without letting you know the risk. Tell me Twilight, have you made any headway with your study on geass?”
        “None princess,” Twilight replied crestfallen. “I've checked everywhere that comes to mind but nothing about a geass powerful enough to repel princess Luna from a dream.”
        “It may have been how they worded it then,” Celestia said. “Yesterday I had your friends ask them questions about how they met and there were no problems. I'm sorry to put you six in this position. Did Rarity and Rainbow Dash get what they needed from Ponyville?”
        “Yes,” Twilight replied, “I hope Spike isn't doing anything silly.”
        “Well you can ask him when he gets here,” Celestia replied.

---

        Playtime recovered inside an ICU room. His foggy mind was trying to put together what happened. He thought the black bug ponies were his friends. They did, after all, help him get out of the prison so he could play again. Maybe he got the bug pony angry by tagging his playmate? No that didn't make sense, the bug pony should've been willing to share, and everypony knows if you tell somepony before hurting them if they are playing with your toy. Besides, he had her first!
        There was a click as the door opened and some voices talking distantly. Playtime ignored them. They were from the prison so they were going to tell him he was broken. He wasn't broken! He was perfect the way he was, and was happy that way too.
        “Where did the changeling come from?” A whisper in his voice asked. He realized it sounded like one of the black bug ponies so he ignored it. They were mean and wouldn't let him play. He had her first! Playtime hadn't realized he said that last part out loud. He tried to move to cover his mouth but his legs were stuck in the casts.
        “You'll have your playmate back,” the voice whispered again. “We just want to know where he came from.”
        “He was bad,” Playtime replied.
        “Yes he was,” the voice said again, “and we are going to make sure him and his friends get punished. We need to know where to find them.”
        “I don't want to be here,” Playtime said, “I just want to play.”
        There was a pause before the voice came back, “We'll take you to a place where you will have all the playmates you could want.”
        “Really?” the glee evident in his voice.
        “Yes really, all we need is to know where his friends may be hiding.”
        “He worked at a restaurant,” Playtime said. “It was funny cause I watched that place all day and nopony took a break, or ate.”
        “Thank you,” the voice said then left. Playtime relaxed and thought about all the new playmates he was going to have. Maybe the black bug ponies weren't so bad after all. There were always a few meanies with the good ones.
---

        “Does anyone taste that?” Ancro asked out of the blue, stopping in the hallway and licking his lips.
        “No,” Scott said, “I can't taste anything.”
        “It tastes really good.” Ancro said, “Like fresh doughnuts, Swedish fish, pumpkin pie, and oh god I can't describe it.”
        The other two looked at each other and were glad that Celestia had dismissed the guards following them and that they were alone in the hall. Ancro stumbled down the hall like he was drunk. It wasn't long before he was leaning against the wall heading in some random direction. Eventually Scott and Stigandr walked over to him and saw that his blue eyes where a deeper shade of blue, a far deeper shade of blue, more akin to a darker purple.
        Ancro had fallen onto the ground and was now creeping along mumbling about the sweetest taste he had ever known.
        “We'll have to ask Specs about this,” Stigandr said, levitating the changeling onto the griffin's back.
        “Well if you ask me he's acting like he's high,” Scott said. “Can changelings get high? I mean they feed on emotions so certain emotions could get him baked.”
        “That's what I was thinking,” Stigandr added. “Still I'd like to know how to get him sober. Hey Scott you know that he's...”
        “Yes I know,” Scott grumbled. “Do you mind levitating him the room instead?”
        “Yeah I got this,” Stigandr said effortlessly levitating his friend. “I need to flex my magic a bit.”
---
        Discord rolled back laughing. He thought that using Sombra's horn to prank the praetorians was fun. Their discipline was melting as they tasted the fear leaking off the horn. Ancro's reaction was by far the best. He was straight up wasted. His friends had put him on the bed and would occasionally check up on him. It was absolutely hilarious every time the changeling opened his mouth and absolute gibberish came. However, like most pranks, Discord eventually grew tired of it and sealed the artifact for later use.
        The draconequus watched with intrigue as Ancro came off the high and watched events unfold.
        “Son of a bitch,” Ancro groaned. “I hate that feeling.”
        “What, coming down?” Scott asked.
        “No, going up and losing control of my faculties,” he replied. “Why else do you think I never get drunk?”
        “I thought it was because of your, ahem, high tolerance,” Scott said making air quotes with his talons.
        “Partially,” Ancro said. “What did I do?”
        “Nothing much, just kinda vegged out,” Scott replied as Stigandr walked in.
        “You are going to have to share what you've been taking,” the unicorn smiled.
        “I have no damn clue,” Ancro said, clenching his teeth. Not a lot of things bothered the changeling, however, something actually messing with him like that was towards the top of that short list. If something did that to him he wanted to know what it was so he could avoid it in the future.
        “When Specs gets back we'll ask her,” Scott said, trying to calm down his friend with a pat on the shoulder.
        “I just hope that it doesn't happen again,” Ancro said. “How long was I out?”
        “Few hours,” Scott said. “You were gone.”
        “All the more reason to not want it to happen again,” Ancro said. “Who cleaned my room?”
        “The cleaning crew, most likely,” Scott said.
        “They also left this,” Stigandr said, levitating a note over with surprising speed. Ancro wasn't sure if it just seemed that way because he hadn't seen it for a few days, the still brain numbing effects of whatever hit him, or that Stigandr's ring had acted like resistance training and now his magic did in fact lift.
        Ancro looked daftly at the note then confusedly handed it to Stigandr.
        “Here you go my literate friend.”
        “It's from Twilight, it says ‘don't use your room for target practice’,” Stigandr said.
        “Yeah I'm probably going to have to see if they have a range for that,” Ancro said.
---
        “Finally,” one of the pegasus guards said, “we get to check this place out.”
        “Yeah, I've heard good things about it,” a unicorn added in a tone that was nearly regal.
        “Yeah, sucks that the others couldn't be here,” an earth pony said. “This is gonna be good.”
        The trio entered Choix and were seated immediately. Their menu's were brought out to them and they waited patiently for their server, making idle chat and jokes about the day including one very convincing Shining Armor impersonation. A unicorn waiter made his way out. He took their orders and left with a small joke that caused the trio to laugh. Soon the food was brought out to them.
        “Hey waiter,” the pegasus said, “what do you think of all these changelings popping up all over the place?”
        “Its kinda scary actually,” he responded with a nervous smile. “I mean, one of our best waiters was abducted by a changeling and we still don't know where he is. Poor colt.”
        “Yeah, that is unfortunate,” the unicorn said somberly.
        Then almost out of the blue the earth pony said, “I actually heard a guard talk about desertion today. What's your opinion of it?”
        “Well I'm not a guard,” he laughed nervously, “but definitely doesn't sound good. I mean if the guards start deserting who would be left to defend Equestria?”
        “Yeah that's what I was thinking,” he said between bites as he dug into the salad. “It'd be crazy to desert your post and leave the gates wide open. What if you are needed? What if it's a rough time and you just run away rather than help your own kind? It's awful.”
        The waiter realized at that moment that he hadn't tasted a thing all the while they were eating.
        “Yes I agree,” the unicorn said happily, levitating the fork to his mouth. The waiter was trying to hurry back to scream to warn the others but he felt like he was anchored to the ground. He watched in horror as the blinds shut and the doors locked. The last thing to happen was the sign flip from open to close.
        “You know,” the earth pony said keeping the charade going, “I heard changelings could taste emotions. I wonder what pure fear tastes like, I wonder if it's sweet.”
        Finally, the waiter gathered himself enough to scream, “Quit toying with me and just do it!”
        “Well that's the thing,” the unicorn smiled as the rest of the staff filed in to see what the commotion was, “we're off duty, and have a long time to unwind and relax.”
        “Excuse me, can I help you?” the apparent owner said, walking up to them. He was either trying to buy time for the rest to escape or was trying to just toss one under the bus to save the rest of them.
        The praetorians didn't answer, they only looked to each other and smiled. They were supposed to check in with their commander in four hours. That would give them plenty of time to enjoy this.

(Thanks for reading! As usual feedback is always enjoyed whether if in PM form or a comment. Thanks to my editors Lone Spartan, Soulstorm65, Tsujin Rilauco, Billahsaurus101. Going to be moving out over the next few weeks so hopefully it doesn't throw off my writing but as long as I have my laptop and my music it shouldn't be a problem though.)
> Forfeit, Rushed Plans, Decisions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 29




        Ancro thought that Specs might go easy on him after his horn had been blown off. He was wrong. When she got back from running her errands she tore into him with a vengeance. Not that Ancro was complaining, he was able to keep up with the physical drills. The magical stuff was straight up killing him tough. It didn't help that her idea of helping him heal was to endanger him by throwing things at him; sharp things. Ultimately he did get a break though. It wasn't because he earned it. They were waiting for Scott to catch up on his reps. When she realized Ancro wasn't doing anything she tried out isometrics by making Ancro grow another horn.
        Ancro's head was sore and he felt virtually drained as he desperately tried to keep his second horn working. Growing one was simple enough, growing a working one was kinda tricky, growing a working second horn and using it to cast fireballs was a pain. Especially since Specs had insisted that he keep his armor on as well. Ancro really wished that he had a HUD with a power gauge that would let him know when he was dipping low. The sudden headaches were getting tiresome.
        “Specs, for lack of a better word, something got me high,” Ancro said, “I tasted the most wonderful thing I've ever tasted, then went limp and started babbling and drooling.”
        “Sounds like an overdose of fear,” Specs answered. “Like I said in the sewers. Fear is changeling junk food, it can also be addictive and cause various other effects.” She felt almost sad that she had missed out on the experience.
        “Thanks for the explanation,” Ancro said. “Now if you don't mind me asking, what's got you so mad?”
        “None of your business,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
        “Well I consider it my business,” Ancro said. “If you are this irate and distracted it can make it harder for me to concentrate.”
        “You wouldn't understand.”
        “Doesn't matter,” Ancro replied, “just get it off your back. What have you honestly got to lose? Besides, Scott's not listening.” He gestured to the griffin trying desperately to keep the small cloud he built from dissipating.
        “Do you have any siblings?” she finally asked after a long pause.
        “Yes I have...five.” Ancro said after doing a brief count in his head. “I'm the second oldest.”
        “So you know what it's like, to be the responsible older sibling.”
        “Kinda,” Ancro replied. “My oldest little sister usually took care of everyone.”
        “Yes but you still know.”
        “Yeah, I do,” Ancro said. Being in charge was one of his least favorite things to do but he had to do it when he was the only one around and his two youngest sisters were about to kill each other and his little brother was bawling in the corner.
        “Well the changeling they captured was my brother,” she said, then stomped. “If he hadn't been seeing that stupid guard then none of this would've happened.”
        Ancro gave her a knowing smile, “You know my current position with the princesses puts me at a point where I can negotiate with them.”
        “You don't get it,” she said. “Ponies are least of our problems. If word gets out where we are hiding, the queen will have us killed.”
        “Well then the plan is simple,” Ancro said still smiling. “The queen doesn't find out.”
        “You make it seem like it's as easy as walking up to Celestia, revealing myself and asking Celestia to pretty please don't tell anypony,” she said flatly. “Besides, there are other things I have to worry about.”
        “Oh, Specs, quick question,” Ancro said, deciding to drop the topic, “I don't have depth perception, how can I fix that?”
        “How do you know so little?” she asked mostly under her breath. “You are proving more than capable of learning.”
        “I'd love to tell you but I can't.” Ancro replied. “Now hurry up and tell me how to fix it.”
        “Is it neurological or a lens problem?”
        “I'm left eye dominant but favor my right side,” Ancro replied. “Kinda messes with my equilibrium.”
        “I'll look into it,” Specs groaned.
        She looked up as Scott swore and the taste of frustration filled the air. His latest attempt at making a cloud had fallen apart and was now fogging the room.
        “Why don't you take a break and go for a walk,” she said.
---
        Stigandr had put his book down. He needed to find harder reading material. Specs said that she didn't need to give him any training. Not that he felt he needed it right now, since he had the ring removed he felt like he was unstoppable magically. He almost wanted to try to lower the sun.
        Bored, the unicorn stood up and started to head out. Something caught his eye, Stigandr saw that Ancro had moved one of the pawns from the chess set. Stigandr, knowing that his friend was baiting him for a long term game, moved another piece before turning around, intent on going to work. Then there was a ruckus on the board.
        He spun around and saw the shadow of Discord sitting at the board. A knight moved up the board.
        “Up for a game?” Discord said.
        “No, I'm going for a walk,” the unicorn replied.
        “Pity, and here I was going to make you an offer you couldn't refuse,” Discord said.
        “Which is?” Stigandr said, stopping at the door.
        “Well I was going to tell you how many praetorians are in the palace,” Discord said, “Who they are, where they are, and when they plan to attack.”
        “Why not tell princess Celestia that there are praetorians in the palace?” Stigandr said cocking an eyebrow. “That kinda cuts out the middle man.”
        “Yes, but if I did that you'd be stuck with that cookie game again,” Discord replied. “And I may not be able to give your friend a tug to duck this time.”
        “And all I have to do is beat you at chess?” Stigandr responded. “What if I lose?”
        “Nothing, nothing at all,” Discord said. “Like you or not you are far too intelligent to take a bet that you will lose.”
        Stigandr exhaled and swore under his breath. Walking over he took a seat opposite of Discord and moved a pawn to finish the opening for his queen. Stigandr had wanted to put himself in a battle of wits with Discord and was glad there was nothing on the line for his part. The unicorn also wanted to know why Discord wanted nothing from him.
        “You could simply tell me or I go and tell the princesses about your state of disrepair.” Stigandr said, confidently opening up for his queen's movement.
        “You could do that, but then you wouldn't know their plans and how they involve you,” Discord replied, moving up a pawn. “And I assure you the praetorian's plans would go on without me and nothing would be able to help you back. Yes, I would do that out of spite. It's your move.”
---
        “Here you go Twilight,” Spike said, setting down a stack of books easily twice his size. “Why do you need all these books for spell construction?”
        “I'm trying to find out how to construct a geass,” Twilight replied. “If I figure out how to build one I may be able to figure out how to deconstruct one as well.” Her magic chimed as the book opened. “Wow, it never really occurred to me how complex constructing a geass could be.”
        “What is geass any ways?” Spike asked.
        “It's a spell that makes you do something or not do something.” Twilight said, “The changeling queen used it on my brother to make him her slave. I'm trying to deconstruct the one that is on the Triumvirate.”
        “The Triuwhatvirate?”
        “A Triumvirate, to put it simply, is three kings who rule one kingdom.” She said, “This Triumvirate is just some friends who seem to have gotten into something over their head.”
        “Okay,” Spike said. “Aren't these the guys who broke into the library?”
        “Yes they are,” Twilight said. “And the prison and the changeling of the group Ancro started a fight with Rainbow Dash.”
        “And why are you helping them?” Spike asked. “It sounds like they’re nothing but trouble.”
        “They held up their end of the bargain to catch the changeling spy,” Twilight said. “And while annoying, destructive, and disrespectful, they aren't all that bad.”
        “Hmph,” a haughty pony said from across the library, loud enough to catch both Twilight’s and Spike's attention. Blueblood walked over and spoke, “I beg to differ. All changelings and anypony who associates with changelings needs to be locked up right alongside the annoying pests.”
        “Shove it Blueblood we're busy.” Spike had met Blueblood before the grand galloping gala incident and already had a low opinion of the unicorn who said he wasn't good enough to be made into a saddlebag.
        “Spike!” Twilight said. While she had no fondness for the unicorn either she still didn't want to cause any trouble or by some extension give her teacher a headache by having to deal with him.
        “I was just giving my two bits before I left,” he said, still in his high and mighty tone. “I'm leaving for Baltimare until after this whole changeling business blows over. Appalling that Celestia and Luna tolerate such a disrespectful creature.”
        Twilight didn't acknowledge his question and instead went back to the books, ignoring Blueblood. She was greatly relieved when he finally left the library mumbling about how Ancro needed a far more suiting punishment than what he was receiving.
        “Anything else Twilight?” Spike asked.
        “No I think that's everything right now,” Twilight said, then her stomach growled. “Actually if you could go and get me something from the kitchen that would be good. I think Applejack said she was going to be baking something.”
        “On it.” Spike saluted and ran through the familiar halls of the palace to his favorite destination while he lived here.
---
        “Sup Spike,” a layered voice casually said as the small dragon ran through the halls. He turned around and saw nothing. He could've sworn that he heard somepony talk to him. Casually he turned and kept walking. As Spike walked he heard buzzing noise follow him. Immediately he turned around and again saw nothing. This time when the dragon turned around he started casually whistling. As he whistled he waited longer. The moment the buzzing noise came back Spike turned on his heels screaming “Aha!”
        “What are you looking for?” said a voice behind him. The dragon turned around and came face to face with a pair of blue eyes on a black face.
        Spike lost his balance and fell on his back trying to scream as the changeling stared him down. He took in the appearance of the black bug. The dragon drank in the appearance of the creature. It's curved horn, sharp canine fangs, dorsal fins. The dragon tried to get up but ended up tripping over his own tail.
        “Sorry didn't mean to scare you,” the changeling said, extending one of his holed hooves. “I'm Ancro by the way.”
        “I figured that out,” Spike grumbled getting up, “and you didn't scare me.”
        “Okay,” Ancro said rolling his eyes. He always liked little kids. “Didn't expect to see you here. Where you heading?”
        “To the kitchen,” Spike said, “I'm getting snacks for Twilight.”
        “Hey I have a quick favor to ask you,” Ancro said, then noticed the dragon's guarded look towards him. “It's nothing bad I assure you. I was just wondering what gemstones taste like, since I can't really taste them on my own.”
        “You want me to describe what gems taste like?”
        “No I want you to eat them so that I can taste them,” Ancro said.
        “Huh?” Spike said looking up at the changeling and blinking a few times. “You want me to eat a snack so that you can know what they taste like?”
        “Exactly,” Ancro said. “I may need to ask Celestia about hiring somepony to do that as benefits but that may be pushing things a bit too far.”
        “Probably,” Spike replied, not entirely sure why he'd be getting benefits. “So can you become anything or just ponies?”
        “Well ponies are easiest,” Ancro said. “Tried to pull off a minotaur and it was not pretty let me tell you that.”
        “Why what happened.”
        “You want to keep your appetite?”
        “That bad?”
        “Worse.” Ancro replied, “I think if I gave it some more practice I could maybe pull it off but as it stands now? I can't even transform regularly.”
        “What do you meaaggh!” Spike screamed as he looked at the mixed up creature that appeared from the green flame. Ancro quickly changed back shaking off the minor headache.
        “Nearly got my head taken off yesterday. Still not quite up to snuff.”
        “Don't do that again,” Spike said.
        “Not a problem,” Ancro assured him, “too tired for it anyways.”
---
        “So Discord,” Stigandr said moving a piece up the board. He was either on terrifyingly equal terms with the draconequus or Discord was dragging out the game. Stigandr was gambling the latter. Discord was playing a strictly defensive game and try as Stigandr could, strategizing a way through it seemed nearly impossible. “Why don't you want anything from me?”
        “I already answered that,” Discord said. “If I asked for anything you'd be wary and not play my game.”
        “Your game?”
        “Come now Stigandr,” the shadow said, moving another piece thoughtfully up the board, “do you honestly think that this is the only game I play?”
        “I figured that,” Stigandr said, “I just want to know to what ends you plan to use us.”
        Discord's dark chuckle left Stigandr's hair standing up on end. “To be honest I have a pot brewing for my release that holds no sway with your decisions.”
        “So are we the contingency?” Stigandr replied feeling increasingly expendable to the draconequus he had used only last week.
        “To some extent, but don't worry,” Discord said. “While you three are chaotic, making you into something capable of challenging the spell that had sealed me? It would take far longer than I'd like to spend.”
        “So what are you planning to do with us?” Stigandr pushed, trying to get a definitive answer. “We seem a bit of a liability.”
        “Come now, you are far too tense,” Discord said. “I'm not one to go around sacrificing pawns. Especially such charming ones.” With a wave of his hand Discord turned three of Discord's pawns that were in jeopardy into busts of him and his friends. “Now then, I believe it is your move.”
        Stigandr calmly moved to counter Discord to the best of his ability. Something was bothering him though. It looked like Discord was holding something, but he couldn't make it out.
---
        “We need to act now,” the praetorian commander said. After what the wave of fear that had hit them earlier he had convened with the other commander. The fear had hit every praetorian in the palace. They didn't know what it was from or how the ponies had used it but it had almost caused several of them to abandon their disguises. If not for their discipline they would've been completely incapacitated by it. As it stood now they were lucky. There was no clue as to what had caused it, if it was a spell or if it had been a device or a combination of the two.
        “We were in position to strike the traitor yesterday but lost our shot. We have no guards on him anymore,” the other commander said. “Everything is in place to distract the princesses. The other traitor shouldn't be that much of a problem.”
        “That was before we found more. There was apparently an entire nest of them,” he said. Feeling the boiling rage in his colleague the commander added, “They are being taken care of.”
        “Very well,” he said, “when will you be ready to strike?”
        “Immediately. One praetorian, five to distract each of the princesses long enough and.” He looked at his fellow commander, “The other three will be back within the hour. I’ll personally go and deal with the one that has taken up residence in the palace.”
        Then another wave of the sweet delicious fear washed over them and the praetorians' found themselves almost lost in it. “We have to act now,” growled the other commander, “if it gets any stronger we will be forced to reveal ourselves.”
        “I'll inform them to be ready in fifteen minutes,” he replied, running off as fast as his unicorn form would allow. His thoughts turned to how quickly the plan had fallen to Tartarus. 'Who knows,' thought the commander, 'I may be able to see how resourceful this traitor is myself.'
---
        “Hi Applejack,” Ancro said as he walked in with Spike. “What are you doing here?”
        “Something smells good,” Spike said, walking in right behind the changeling.
        “Howdy Spike,” she said, completely ignoring Ancro's question and general existence. “There's some apple fritters in the oven and I think a few gems in the pantry. Looks like somepony knew you'd be back at the palace.”
        “You know, I figured after I helped you would warm up to me enough to at least give me a friendly greeting,” Ancro chuckled as soon as Spike had buried himself in the pantry and he was out of earshot.
        Applejack shot back with a dirty look, “I was raised that if I didn't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.” She went back to the stove before continuing.
        “Why not,” Ancro said. “You act like I've gone out of my way to hurt you and your friends.”
        “You don't take anything seriously.”
        “Neither does Pinkie,” Ancro replied.
        “She gets serious when we need her to be.” Applejack replied, “You are still making jokes after you've done been captured, and you start fights.”
        “Rainbow Dash started it,” Ancro said.
        “And from what I saw she finished it.”
        “You seem to think winning the fight meant something to me?” Ancro smiled with a smart-ass tone. “Winning wasn't important. I just needed to have some fun.”
        “Well I guess if getting your flank kicked is fun fer you then it's none of my business,” Applejack replied.
        “What do I have to do to get you trust me?” Ancro said with a smile.
        “If princess Celestia trusts you then so do I,” Applejack said. “That doesn't mean I have to like you though.”
        “Fair enough,” Ancro shrugged. Applejack noticed the changeling switched to a Trottington accent for some reason and shouted “Oi! Spike ya ready to go?”
        “Just about,” the dragon said walking out of the pantry. Ancro had to chuckle seeing the dragon carry a pile of snacks that was easily taller than the little guy.
---
        “Specs,” she recognized the voice of her employer inside her ear. “For the first time in your employment you get to make a decision.”
        “What do you mean?” she thought back to him. Scott was guzzling water from a canteen the changeling had brought in.
        “Well you are going to have two choices,” he explained. “I'd gladly leave it in my paws but I'd be stretching myself extremely thin, I'd rather have two successes than two failures you know?”
        “What are they?” she asked through grit teeth.
        “Oh you are going to love them,” the voice started. “As you know I have a little bit of power, nothing truly substantial.”
        “Get on with it,” she growled, feeling her blood pressure rising.
        “Wow, somling's a little touchy,” the voice said, “I'm tempted to not give you the choice now, but I'm feeling generous today.” Specs waited for the voice to continue. “You know how your little brother's in prison and Ancro is at the palace right?”
        “Yes.”
        “Well you know there is a decena of praetorian's in the prison. They were sent to tie up a few loose ends,” she could hear the smile in his voice, “now in a few minutes they plan to kill Ancro. And with him being my favorite pawn I'd really rather not have him die. I only have so much power though. How do you think it should be used?”

(Thanks for reading! As usual feedback is always enjoyed whether if in PM form or a comment. Thanks to my editors Lone Spartan, Soulstorm65, Tsujin Rilauco, Billahsaurus101. We have officially gone through my buffer faster than I could rebuild it. Course between moving out of my parents house, job hunting, and school time for writing has been little to nonexistent. If I get a the time I may have the next chapter done by next Monday but not sure if it will be edited by then.)
> All hell breaks loose
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 30




        Stigandr defiantly moved a bishop to block his king. He counted four moves until checkmate. Discord took the bishop with the pawn shaped like the unicorn's head. Fortunately that turned the piece into it's own block while Stigandr neutralized the threat that would have him in check next turn. Discord confidently fixed it with the pawn that bore the bust of Scott. With a reluctant sigh Stigandr performed the last move of the game and moved his king back one space.
        “Thank you for the exhilarating game,” Discord said with a smile. “Definitely much better than I expected.” Then with a single stroke of his paw Discord knocked over his own king. “Oops.”
        “Why'd you do that?” Stigandr said, the worry evident in his voice.
        “Because obviously I want to give you a head start,” Discord replied. “If I didn't let you know what would happen until the last moment I may risk losing one of my more prized pawns.” Stigandr noticed that the shadowy talon was balancing on the head of Ancro's pawn.
        “What's going to happen?” Stigandr said, charging a spell in his horn.
        “Please we both know that won't do anything,” Discord replied. “Besides, if you did hit me, and per extremely low chance, harm me, who would tell you about the twenty praetorians in the palace? And that Ancro is being stalked by two of them, one of which happens to be the commander? Also, you know that little tingle feeling you've been getting in your horn?” Stigandr took off running realizing how stupid he had been. It never occurred to him that he was adapting to the changelings more passive abilities as well.
---
        Celestia sat atop her throne, holding court. A griffin dignitary had apparently found out that they were holding a member of their race as a prisoner. She was glad she did not have to lie about holding him any longer. As far as she was concerned Scott was free at the moment. He wouldn't leave without Ancro or Stigandr. Scott was far too good a friend and she knew he'd be lost and in trouble within a few days.
        “I'm aware that you are not holding one of my kind any longer,” the falcon headed dignitary said, “However, all my government wants to know is why you didn't at least inform us of a situation involving a griffin? We understand if it was some internal affair and you wished to hold him.”
        “We did not wish to take the chance of you deporting him.” Celestia replied, “We understand that this is a breach in the trust of our two nations but this griffin, Scott, is a special case.”
        “And how is that,” he asked, raising an eyebrow in intrigue.
        “Firstly he is under a geass by an unknown party,“ this only piqued the dignitary's curiosity as he waited for more. “Second he is the friend of a changeling.”
        “I fail to see why that would worry you or why you would hide him,” he replied. “It is my government’s prerogative to extradite all griffins who break major laws abroad.”
        “Yes, but it is my prerogative to not allow a single being under my care to suffer,” Celestia replied. “I bear no love for the queen of the changelings but listening to the agonized screams of the changeling when he was starving is too cruel a punishment.”
        “So you were keeping one of my people locked up so that he could feed your prisoner?” The griffin dignitary replied, only years of experience preventing him from screaming at this outrage.
        “I assure you we made it known that deportation was an option,” she said, trying to salvage the situation. “He made the choice to stay of his own volition. The changeling wasn't using any control spells and his magic was blocked. If he had asked to be deported we would've granted it to him. He elected to stay.”
        “I wish to see him,” he said, containing a growl. In all his years of working beside Celestia he had never known her to do something so low. The prisoner's opinion didn't matter in the event of something like this. Especially when several felonies were involved!
        “My guards will fetch him at once,” Celestia said calmly and nodded to two of the guards.
---
        Cadence and Shining Armor strolled through the garden. Shining Armor had heard about Ancro's release and was doing his best to keep an open mind. Yes, Ancro had saved his wife, but the changeling's general attitude towards every situation got under his skin.
        “You've been quiet,” Cadence said as they strolled.
        “Sorry, I'm just distracted,” he said, “I have several promotions to take care of. Not to mention a mountain of paperwork.”
        “That's not the only thing that's bothering you,” the alicorn said, smiling knowingly.
        “I'm just having trouble believing that it’s over,” Shining armor sighed. “We catch the spy, he takes a shot at Ancro, and we drag him to prison where he shuts up.”
        “And you think something else is going to happen?” Cadence asked.
        “Yeah I do,” Shining Armor said. “It just seemed to easy.”
        “Maybe it seemed that way because you had help,” Cadence said. “Ancro and his friends were useful and from what I heard it was Scott's idea to use taste to lure the changeling out.”
        “You are right. I'm probably just being paranoid.”
        “Still doing better than your first week as captain of the guard,” Cadence said.
        “You will never let that go, will you?” he chuckled.
        “Not anytime soon,” she started laughing. “It’s still funny that you put the palace on high alert because of a broom handle.”
        “From my angle it looked like a spear,” he defended. “I'm just glad they stopped calling me Captain Broom Handle behind my back.” His wife's chuckle indicated otherwise.
        “Well you don't have to worry,” Cadence replied, deciding she had teased him enough. “I, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, shall protect you and the kingdom from all threats. Changelings and broom handles alike.”
        Shining Armor blushed a deep shade of crimson as his wife continued to laugh at his mistake. From years ago. That anypony could've made. He was sure that just because he was the first didn't mean there wouldn't be another pony eventually. He really hoped somepony else would do the same thing before he retired.
---
        Una eagerly watched the cell door waiting for her brother to come in. She knew it was him and she couldn't wait to tell her how proud she was. He most likely already knew she could barely contain herself. To be part of her brothers mission as praetorian. She had wished she didn't have to be killed for her failure and that it was fighting and feasting alongside him.
        She couldn't help but feel tiny, barely noticeable bits of uncertainty and trepidation leaking off him and through the door. It was only noticeable to her since she had known him for his entire life. She knew every emotional twinge and how his mind worked. The praetorian knew he was sad that he was going to have to kill her.
        She remembered watching him pass his initials in praetorian training. She felt so proud that her brother had a good chance to be in the same group as their parents and her. She wished she could've seen him fight. She showed him how to make weapons but he wasn't nearly as proficient at the talent as her. His was a quiet cunning in combat and self restraint. Something that she was sure would make him a great praetorian.
        Una hoped that she'd be able to see his apex when he killed her. She regretted never being able to see it. To the untrained changeling they all looked alike but to a trained praetorian there were subtle differences to each of them. Some wore the armor differently, others put a vestigial horn in their claws so it would let them blast their preys insides with ease. She preferred keeping her claws protected by a gauntlet of chitin. She found it allowed her to change her forelegs into the weapons with more ease. And she did love using weapons.
---
        “Floor!” Ancro shouted when he felt the magic. Immediately he blasted himself and Spike into the wall. A blast of green fire went by where they had been half a moment earlier, incinerating the treats that had been knocked out of the dragon’s claws. Ancro felt the next spark and managed to scream for the little dragon to run before the hallway exploded. Ancro managed to magic his armor up and not get killed by the blast. He was sent further down the hall, blasted far ahead of the baby dragon.
        Spike had been on the outskirts of the blast and hit the ground. Ancro stumbled to his feet and ducked into a doorway. The changeling grew a second horn, regretting that his primary was still in the process of healing. Poking his head out he fired several shots down the hallway, trying to provide cover for the dazed dragon.
        “Spike!” Ancro shouted, snapping the dragon out of his dazed state just in time to duck down the hallway and avoid the next blast. Ancro tasted the fear coming off the small dragon and it worried him. Not just the delicious taste but because it reminded him of his little brother.
        “Get to the kitchen,” Ancro said, pulling his head back in time to avoid the next shot. “Warn Applejack.”
        “What, Why?”
        “The changelings are attacking for something,” Ancro said analytically. “What better reason than to subdue the elements of harmony! Take one and they are all powerless. I’ll buy time.”
        “Warn Applejack, got it,” Spike said and started to run off. Before he got too far away he turned back to Ancro. The changeling was currently shooting several fireballs around the corner. “But what about you?”
        “Spike relax,” Ancro said, slipping into his more relaxed slouch as his head snapped back from the corner. “I'm perfection incarnate, nothing is going to kill me.”
        Why did Ancro taste laughter?
        “Spike, if you see any guards send them my way please,” Ancro called to the dragon who was running away as fast as his legs would carry him. He then looked around the corner just in time to dodge the changeling's charge.
---
        Stigandr's dead sprint ended at the doors to the throne room. They were shut and barred with the sounds of combat coming from the other side. Suddenly it burst open and several changeling's went flying past.
        “How dare you endanger my subjects in my own throne room,” Celestia spoke in a terrifyingly stern tone as she walked out of the shambled throne room. Her one visible eye narrowed to a glare. Even Stigandr was shaking and he wasn't even the object of her rage.
        The four changelings picked themselves up and in a flash of green became the form they had taken on in the prison. Celestia didn't appear the slightest bit deterred or impressed by the change. She spread her wings and charged her horn. Preparing a spell that she hoped would finish this fight for good. She didn't hear Stigandr's warning.
        She wasn't aware of the fifth praetorian until it was too late. The force of the blast cast the alicorn out of her throne room and into the open air. The praetorians kept the pressure up hoping to prevent Celestia from creating anything more than a defense.
---
        “What the fuck's going on!” Scott shouted as the palace shook.
        “Changeling's are attacking,” Specs said swapping back into her pony disguise, hoping that it would protect her. “We have to get to Ancro, he's in trouble.”
        “Yeah but where is he?” Scott said, already flying towards the door. He was yanked out of the air just as it flew open. A young skinny guard walked in.
        “I've been sent here to ensure the safety of the palace's guests,” he said with a nervous salute. “My name's Chariot.”
        “And you are going to protect us,” Scott said looking at the skinny and nervous pony skeptically.
        “Yes sir,” Chariot said.
        “Scott, calm down,” Specs said, “he's still a guard.”
        The changeling turned on her hooves and started firing shot after shot into the pony guard.
        “Specs what the hell?” Scott shouted.
        “He's a praetorian!” She said leaping out of the way of the return fire. “Get to Ancro. I have this.”
        “Aight,” Scott said and flew out the door.
---
        An explosion destroyed Luna's tower. Dazed and still half asleep, rubble and dust filled the air and clouded her vision. While she tried to make sense of the green fire fireballs that continued to rain down on her. She saw the work of ages of scholars and spells that had taken many lifetimes to create, master, and perfect, burn in an instant. Then a massive fireball many times larger than the others exploded on top of her. She felt the tower scream and groan beneath the strain and knew it wouldn't be able to take much more stress. Luna was now awake.
        Soaring out of the remains of her room she found herself surrounded by large black changelings. They charged a series of blasts, which all bounced harmlessly off her magic barrier. She crashed through them, firing magical bolts at the changelings who dodged. They went crashing toward the ground but inches before hitting they flashed green and became black blurs. She examined them and came to the conclusion that this was the form that was used in the prison.
        Two curved, vicious horns, long gnashing teeth, layered chitin armor that looked to be of a much higher quality than Ancro's. The back legs of a cat with claws so large that they couldn't be sheathed within the feet. Dexterous claws sharp enough to cut metal. She felt a claw pass through her mane and Luna knew this fight was just beginning.
---
        Rainbow Dash napped atop her cloud. When an explosion rocked her cloud the weather pony wrote it off as a thunderstorm. She rolled over trying to go back to sleep. When it didn't work she pulled out part of the cloud and stuffed it in her ears. Finally, with the thunder muffled she went back to sleep. After all, she had slept through worse.
        She wasn't the only one sleeping. Elsewhere in the palace, Blueblood was desperately trying to catch up on his sleep. He had been dealing with the insufferable changeling the other day. That changeling's mocking tone and taunts had pushed him to the point of commissioning a really big fly swatter! It was set to be delivered within the week. Now the palace was having an earthquake. Why did Celestia put the palace on a fault line? Except it wasn't on a fault line, or any where near a fault line. As his brain processed this he realized he was hearing explosions as well. He finally woke up when his window exploded.
---
        Rarity had taken to the halls that were rapidly filling with ponies. The palace had started to explode and those vile changelings were currently battling the princesses. Ponies were panicking as they fled the palace.
        “Everypony calm down!” Rarity shouted, trying to get them under control. If they panicked more ponies would get hurt, or worse. What was worse was the changelings didn't seem to care about collateral damage as they took shots at the princesses and the palace alike. “We need to leave in an orderly fashion!”
        “Yeah, we don't need to run screaming around like crazy!” Pinkie Pie said from the other side of the hall. She had several thick notebooks that she was using for something, as well as several books with notes sticking out of them. “Everypony follow me. Two at a time!”
        After a bit more convincing the ponies were calmly making their way out of the palace. That was before whatever monsters the changelings had become came crashing through the window landing on the far wall. It fired a single fireball that exploded on contact with Celestia, then let out a victorious roar before bounding out the window faster than it had crashed in. Then everypony lost their minds.
---
        In a flash of purple light Twilight teleported outside the kitchen. This was the last place Spike had been.
        “Applejack have you seen Spike?” Twilight asked, worry evident in her voice.
        “No, he was with Ancro when this all started!” Applejack said. Tossing baking soda onto a fire that had started when the first blast hit. “What the hay's goin’ on?”
        “Changelings are attacking the palace,” Twilight said. “You don't think Spike's...”
        “I don't know but we are gonna find out,” she said, stomping the ground.
        “Ancro!” an unbelievably loud voice bellowed through the halls.
        “Was that Scott?” Twilight said, her ears ringing.
        “You know another griffin that can get that loud?” Applejack said, remembering how loud he was in the Everfree forest. They nodded and took off towards the yelling.
---
        Ancro bolted down the halls. The other changeling was hot on his hooves. The only thing that had been keeping Ancro ahead were various obstacles and his own craftiness. Unfortunately Ancro was out of tricks. Desperate, he made a turn, hoping he'd find someplace to hide or a defensive position. Even better, he ran into a patrol of heavily armored guards.
        “Move!” Ancro shouted as a green fireball erupted behind him, the blast giving him a slight push down the hall as he kept running.
        The changeling came around the corner. He had been so focused on getting the traitor he had forgotten to check for ponies. Now he had a spear lodged in his shoulder and the target was getting away. He had been hoping not to burn his energy using his apex. Now he had no other choice.
        Taking a deep breath he smiled. Those poor ponies had no idea what they were getting into. He relished the sensation of confidence and bravado turning to fear and panic. Any attack they tried was almost harmless. They were either far too slow or not powerful enough. Regretfully, he didn't have the time to enjoy their hopelessness. He quickly finished dispatching them before turning his head and finding his prey.
        The coward had made it surprisingly far. The praetorian smiled and looked up to his prey's approximate location. He anchored himself and in flash of green fire his horns turned nearly flat, going over his head and much of his back at various points. Small barbs came out of the inside so that they were facing a barb on the opposite side. He always preferred extremely long range, and in the confines of the palace he hadn't been able to do what he wanted. In retrospect, ambushing him by a window would've been better, but he just hated getting himself dirty like that. It was so much more fun to hunt his prey from a distance and steadily let the terror engulf them.
---
        “Ancro!” Scott shouted. He had already decided not to look outside. Not even Ancro would be stupid enough to go out in that mess. Even inside he'd occasionally duck from an explosion of magical energy.
        “You!” Scott felt himself jerked around by somepony's magic. He was brought fully around and face-to-face with some unicorn. “Whatever you hope to accomplish it won't work! I knew you and your changeling friend weren't to be trusted!”
        “Let me go!” Scott shouted trying in vain to get free. “Ancro's in trouble!”
        “And so are you,” the unicorn with the compass cutie mark said. “I personally found Celestia to be far too kind. I know just what to do with scum like you.”
        The pony’s already glowing horn began to glow brighter. Scott, not wanting to stick around for whatever this pony had in mind, tried all the harder to to break free. It was proving nothing more than futile. Then Scott took a page from Ancro's dirty fighting playbook and spat in the unicorn's face.
        The unicorn frantically started wiping his face, Scott all but forgotten. At least until something grabbed him on the horn. Scott had remembered something that Ancro told him one of the times he had tried to teach him to grapple back on earth. Where the head goes, the body follows. And over the course of the next thirty seconds the head was going into the griffin's fist, a wall, and finally through a vase.
        “Take that you ass,” Scott growled, giving the unicorn one last kick before continuing his search for Ancro.
---
 Discord thoughtfully scratched his chin. With some luck Ancro would survive. Specs was able to get a head start on the praetorian commander, thanks to his warning, and now she was closing in. Unfortunately the commander was healing and would be back on his hooves shortly. Stigandr was blindly running through the halls trying to find his friend before tragedy struck and Scott was luckily heading in the general direction.
            The princesses were still tied up. If not for their worry of 'collateral damage' they would've been able to crush the praetorians. Also it didn't help that Celestia had let herself go since the time he had seen her in action, Starswirl would be disappointed. He figured all these years of relative peace would cause her to be a bit rusty but wow, he never thought it was this bad. Her turns weren't as tight, her spells had lost their precision, if Celestia from a thousand years ago could see herself now she'd never stop training.
            Luna was only in slightly better shape but still, she was pretty rusty too. Also, it didn't help that she was terrified about hurting a pony, while Celestia was only worried. One thousand years locked in her broken mind and heart had her terrified of losing control. She had only just earned her subjects love, she didn't want to risk losing it. Discord found it adorable.
            Shining Armor and Cadence didn't even see the ambush coming. One moment the throne room exploded the next they were subdued and being wrapped in cocoons. The captain of the guards was less than pleased as was Cadence. Oh how the draconequus couldn't wait to see the outcome.
            His attention turned from the battle to the prison. Specs was looking to keep her word and save Ancro, no matter the cost. Which was good. Now all he had to do was figure out the most fun way to save her brother and gain a new piece for his board. He did hate sacrificing pawns but he accepted it as part of the risk of playing chess. Besides, if done right he'd gain a new pawn in the process.
 


(Thanks for reading! As usual feedback is always enjoyed whether if in PM form or a comment. Thanks to my editors Lone Spartan, Soulstorm65, Tsujin Rilauco, Billahsaurus101. Almost didn't get this one done on time. But I did and now have to start busting my tail to get the next on done. With some luck I'll have the next chapter done on schedule too. I probably will since I can do action and fighting scenes pretty smoothly. Also allow me to wish a happy belated birthday to my good friend and fellow brony Chris.)
> A sister's responsibility
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 31




        “Oh please don't struggle Captain,” one of the changelings mocked as they wrapped him in a cocoon. “Your rage is very distracting. We don’t want to hurt your wife, not yet anyway.”
        The changeling's threat only further riled up Shining Armor as he continued to helplessly struggle inside the green cocoon.
        “Honestly you should feel honored,” he chuckled. “Our queen personally requested you once she heard you were having marriage problems. Who knows, maybe she'll help you get rid of your violent tendencies towards mares.” The changeling patiently waited as Shining Armor let out a muffled scream and series of swears inside the cocoon.
        “Most changeling's can't stand rage, tastes extremely bitter, but I've developed a fondness for it.. And I'll have you know, it tastes delicious coming from you. Especially when it mixes with your wife's fear. We didn't even come for her. It was you we wanted, but she's a good bonus.”
        “Enough,” another praetorian said evenly, “we need to get to a place we can teleport.”
        “Fine,” the changeling folded his forelegs and levitating Shining Armor's squirming cocoon into the air. “All that fighting, we'll have to leave the palace grounds.”
        “Up the mountain it is,” declared the leader.
        “As you command.” the praetorian laughed, taking off with the cocoon.
---
        “We have to be going now,” the pegasus guard said halfway through the doorway. “Sorry we don't have the change for a tip but if we are ever in the neighborhood again we'll be sure to come back.”
        “I give the desert a five out of five,” the Unicorn said, smiling as he finished driving the last post in the ground. “We'll be sure to let everypony else know how exquisite it all tasted.”
        “Although I do have one complaint to make,” he said, looking back at their work and smiling. The natural healing would keep the deserters alive long enough for the actual fun to begin. The praetorians lamented not being able to stay for it. “The food was a bit undercooked, but we'll fix that.”
        A small green spark emitted from the Unicorn's horn and immediately set alight the spilled cooking oil. With one last look back the praetorians shut the door.
        “I really would've liked to have drug that on,” the earth pony lamented as they started at a trot towards the disaster that had become the palace. Smoke rose from various towers and the ponies on the street could just make out the magical crossfire.
        “We all would've,” the unicorn chuckled, trying to keep composure after the sweet fear they had ingested. It was substantial enough to give him a good high. Not enough to mess with his higher functions though. Had time not cut into their fun he was doubtful if he'd be able to walk back. It's not every day you get to destroy an entire nest of deserters.
        “We need to pick up the pace,” The pegasus said. After the others nodded they all turned into their changeling forms, albeit with larger wings, and flew towards the palace.
---
        Stigandr stood in the remains of the door that once opened to the throne room. The once regal room had been devastated by the attack. Immediately he rushed to help ponies trapped under the rubble that had been left behind from the fight. He worked from pony to pony until he saw a wing sticking out of one of the rocks. It was too large to belong to a pegasus. Rushing over he started to lift levitate the rock off the wing. The unicorn paused when he realized it wasn't Scott.
        “Don't just stand there, help me!” The beaten griffin pleaded.
        “Sorry,” Stigandr said, effortlessly levitating the rest of the debris. “Have you seen another griffin around?”
        “No, I have not,” The griffin said, moving to help some of the trapped ponies. He stopped when he realized that: One, he was in no shape to move anything; and two, the unicorn that helped him was already taking care of it. He spared a glance out the hole in the wall. Princess Luna flew by with five of the large insects close behind her, were gnashing their teeth and shooting blasts of green fire.
        “So, those are changelings?” The griffin asked, cradling his injured wing.
        “Yup,” Stigandr said, lifting more rubble off grateful ponies. Several guards showed up to help. They began carrying the ponies too injured to walk out of the ruined throne room. Several looked in shock as they witnessed their princesses' fight.
        “We need to help them,” a pegasus guard said, spreading his wings preparing to fly.
        “The princesses can handle themselves,” a voice spoke Stigandr turned and saw an officer, “Our first priority is to help the ponies trapped in the palace. First evacuate then attack.”
        “But,” the young pegasus said before his superior silenced him with a look that reminded Stigandr of one of his Marine DI's.
        The ponies got the message and did the best they could to pay the fight no mind, as difficult as it was for them.
        “You,” the officer said toward Stigandr. Almost out of instinct the unicorn went to rigid attention. “Get your changeling and griffin friend out of here.”
---
        Scott bolted through the halls yelling for his friend with both his chosen name and the NATO designation the griffin had picked for him. The guards he ran past didn't pay him much mind, too busy evacuating ponies or organizing a defense to aid the princesses in the dogfight.
        “Whiskey Bravo!” Scott shouted at the top of his lungs. If that didn't get the changelings attention he was sure what would.
        “Scott, where are Spike and Ancro?” Twilight said running up behind him.
        “I'm trying to find him,” Scott said, continuing his run through the halls. “Who is Spike?”
        “The dragon.”
        “Don't know don't care.” Scott said between breaths, “Shouldn't he be in Ponytown!”
        “He arrived today,” Twilight said, trying to keep up with the griffin's bounds. She flattened her ears every time he took a deep breath. Sweet Celestia his voice is loud.
        “Why are they attacking?” the southern sounding one asked. Applejack, if Scott remembered correctly.
        “Short version, he probably pissed them off and now they are trying to kill him,” the griffin said, making a left down a corridor.
        “All this over one changeling!” Applejack gasped. “Seems a bit drastic.”
        “Ancro!” Scott shouted, ignoring the observation. The griffin cranked his head around and looked at Twilight. “Can't you teleport us to him?”
        “No,” Twilight said, “I need to know where he is.”
        “Don't you have some sort of tracking spell?” Scott pleaded. If this pony was all she cracked up to be she needed to have at least something that could help them.
        “Yes and it was on the ring he had on his horn,” Twilight said.
        “Why didn't you put it on him?” Scott replied, nearly tripping over some debris as the palace shook again. Only his wings kept him from face-planting.
        “Tracking living things is extremely difficult,” Twilight said.
        “Twilight!” Spike came running up to the unicorn. “We need to get out of here! Ancro said you and the other elements are in danger!”
        “You saw him! Where is he?” Scott demanded, in his panic pouncing the dragon pinning both his shoulders to the ground.
        “He said he was going to stall the changeling that was attacked us,” Spike said. “He was in the west wing.”
        “That idiot!” Scott shouted, taking off in the direction the dragon had directed him to.
        “Spike, Applejack, find everypony else and get them to the hall of the elements,” Twilight ordered.
        “What about you?” Spike and Applejack asked simultaneously.
        “I'll catch up when I'm done helping Scott,” she said then called back to them, “don't worry, I'll be fine.”
        “Alright partner, here's the plan,” Applejack said. “I need you to be brave and go get Fluttershy from the west tower. I'm gonna nab Pinkie Pie and Rarity. If you see Rainbow Dash, let her know the plan. Hopefully before she gets involved in that.” Applejack pointed her hoof out the window as Celestia fired a large beam of light narrowly missing one of the changelings.
        “You don't know where she is?” Spike asked, “What if we can't find her, I don't have to be her again, do I?”
        “No sugar cube you won't have to be the element of loyalty again,” Applejack replied. Spike nodded, noticeably relieved. He then took a deep breath and started to run down the hall toward the tower.
---
        Ancro was trying to formulate a plan. The changeling that took a shot at Spike was long behind him and now he had to save the Mane Six. His head was pounding so bad he couldn't keep thoughts straight speaking a plan out loud seemed like it may work. “Find Mane Six, get them to safe spot of palace. The place where they store the Elements may be a good idea. Get the box to open and have them fix whole mess.”
        Ancro squinted to cut down on the pain his eyes were putting out. He wished he could get his ears taken out too. So much for never burning himself out again. Having verbally formed a plan he continued walking onwards. He tried to run but it felt like his brain was bouncing around in his skull and the last thing he needed was to be on the ground vomiting.
        “Discord,” Ancro mumbled. “Where are the mane six?”
        “Well Twilight is with Scott heading towards the west wing of the palace. Rarity and Pinkie are trying to get ponies evacuated. Rainbow Dash is napping on a cloud and Fluttershy is hiding in the kitchen of that tower.” Discord's shadow pointed to the tower nearest Ancro, at least it looked like the closest one. He couldn't tell anymore between no depth perception, exhaustion, and the migraine. A bright green flash forced the changeling to his head as all of his senses were assaulted. He looked again and now there was a chunk missing from part of the tower. Luna was banking around firing whatever shots that she could.
        “Is there anyling I need to be worried about over there?” Ancro asked. Discord was being helpful without asking for something. This made the changeling worried.
        “No there isn't.”
        “Bully,” Ancro responded, forcing a smile on his face and walking towards the tower. He focused on the only thing that was going to drive him forward. Ancro imagined Stigandr being a few feet in front of him, his constant need to one up his friend would drive him forward. Even if he was only imaginary.
---
        “Firecracker get your flank back in bed this instant.” The doctor noticed the pegasus trying to sneak out of the ward while everypony was distracted by new patients coming in.
        “I am an officer in the royal guard,” Firecracker replied, “I have responsibilities that do not include waiting in the infirmary.”
        “And as a doctor of the royal guard's infirmary I have every authority to say you are not allowed to get yourself killed!” the doctor snapped back, clearly out of patience. The infirmary was starting to get full from the casualties of the battle. Thankfully most of them weren't serious. “If you want to do something help with Triage, otherwise I will sedate you so heavily that you won't wake up til the damn Summer Sun Celebration!” Firecracker made a move to open her mouth but saw a vial levitate in the unicorn's magical aura. He then looked her dead in the eyes and spoke very evenly, “Be grateful I'm giving you the option.”
        And Hoplon said she was scary when her buttons got pushed. She took a deep breath and looked at the strained nurses and doctors busy over freshly arriving patients. “Who's first.”
        “Excellent choice,” the doctor replied smiling.
---
        The praetorian watched his prey lurch towards the tower. The idiot had burnt himself out in their brief firefight and now he was beginning to suffer for it. It was entertaining to sit there and watch the traitor suffer. The praetorain charged his horn not wishing to drag this debacle of a mission on further. Taking  a deep breath the spells charged between his horns. The long sharp claws dug into floor inpreparation. In his mind he planned out how it would go. Three fireballs ready glowed between his horn. First one would blast through the stone protecting the changeling cover, the second one would clear any debris that may have fell and kill if not stun his target. The third was for if the somehow the changeling was still alive after the second shot. It was long and narrow, more closely resembling a toothpick than a fireball. It would pierce even a praetorian’s armor. He should know it's how he won his place.
        The second he fired a ball of green fire connected with his face. All three fireballs went way off target and hit somewhere at the base of the tower his prey was heading to. Before he could fully recover from the fireball the praetorian was knocked against a wall. He immediately recognized the emotional frequency of a changeling’s fireball, but he could adjust his body to deal with close combat. A sword glanced off his chitin armor and knocked his head into the wall again. He regained his senses in and was able to block the next swing and knock out the levitated sword.
        Letting out a vicious roar the changeling lunged at his aggressor, narrowly dodging the next fireball she sent to greet him. The commander was supposed to deal with this one. How she had managed to get away was beyond him. Why she was attacking when running was the better option was an even further befuddlement. It didn't matter though, he was praetorian, and she was nothing more than a nuisance.
---
        After waking up with a headache Blueblood stumbled through the halls, steadily making his way in the direction he thought was the infirmary. His head really hurt and he felt so confused. The palace kept shaking and he couldn't remember what he had been doing. He remembered fighting, his room exploding, then he was looking for Ancro. Oh now bits were coming back to him. He came across Scott and the he dared to spit in the face of a prince. In the moment he had been distracted the griffin beat on him as if he were a punching bag.
        A green flash came from the hallway and a truly monstrous creature flew around the corner. Blueblood braced himself for the attack but the giant bug completely ignored him. Blueblood found this an insult and took off down the hall after the creature. Maybe it was that treacherous Ancro after all trying to mock him in his weakened state. That changeling was going to learn. Sore or not he was still Prince Blueblood!
---
        The praetorian’s claw narrowly missed its mark. Specs countered by blasting rubble into her opponents unprotected eyes. His style and how she had been able to sneak up on him told her that this changeling was extremely deadly at long range. He most likely made his eyes better over the other senses. Take away the one he relied on the most and he'd be less deadly. The praetorian could still probably eviscerate her but she was ready to die if it meant her brother and the rest of the deserters would be safe.
        The praetorian continued its attack blindly. Specs ducked but the claws stopped short and hit the ground. The praetorian then turned on his wrist and hit Specs with a buck from his catlike rear legs. She managed to recover as he followed up with an overhead slash. The blow cleaved through her chitin head armor. Thankfully it didn't penetrate deeply and only cost her an eye. She fired a shot that went wide as the changeling dodged and and hit her with a vicious shoulder tackle that shattered a bust behind her. Immediately Specs gave her mouth rows of sharp teeth and bit down on the changeling's neck, soliciting a pained howl from the praetorian as she crunched through the armor and sank her teeth into the neck of the changeling.
        She felt the magical spike and immediately let go. A fireball hit where the front of her head would've been. She brought her armor up just in time to get hit by the sweeping claw. They stabbed through her armor and gave her assailant ample leverage to fling her against the wall. Her armor quickly dissipated as her energy finally ran out. She had used most of it to stall the praetorian in the lab.
        She barely dodged the gnashing teeth that were meant to crack her skull open. Luckily the former recon changeling managed to only lose her dorsal fin in the crocodile like bite. However her back peddle down the hall left her wide open to the changeling’s magic. All she saw green, and all she felt was heat. Through the pain Specs smiled, her brother and the changeling in the restaurant were saved.
        All the memories of her and her brother flashed before her eyes. His reckless and poorly planned desertion. Her tracking him to the Everfree and finding him half starved and lost. The fight they had when she tried to talk him into coming back. Her agreeing to help him and follow him. She did her job and protected her Shift until her dying breath.
---
        “I'll give you two minutes.” the commander whispered in Duo's ear as he passed. Immediately the rookie detected a change in the changeling guards behaviors. Duo wasn't stupid, he knew it was a taunt, not a kindness. Regardless, he was relieved he'd be able to say goodbye to Una. He hoped she would be proud. The heavy doors to the cell opened with a reluctant creak as the changelings dispatched the few ponies that had been there.
        “Hello Una,” Duo said as the door closed behind him. If he didn't hear the snicker he could certainly taste it.
        “Duo, I'm so glad I get to see you one last time,” she said from behind the bars, the magic ring standing out against the black sheen on her horn. “I'm so proud that you made it. Did Fect make it?”
        “The commander gave us two minutes,” he said. “And no, in the last trial we ended up sharing a bracket.”
        “I see.” She asked somewhat crestfallen, “Before or during the match?”
        “During,” Duo said. “He was my friend and if I was going to kill him-”
        “Oh silly little brother,” she smiled. “How do you think I made it to the finals? The only real fight I had was the final round. He hadn't been nearly as stupid as the others and knew I was coming for him.”
        “Picked off your roster before any real competition.”
        “Yes,” she said. “A praetorian must be willing to do whatever it takes and risk all the consequences. They ordered everyling to win, but only one would make it.”
        “Una,” Duo shook his head remembering how well his sister liked the loopholes in rules. Whether intentional or not she'd dive head first through them.
        “You were always the special changeling,” she joked. “Duo, it's been great catching up but you have a job to do.”
        Duo took a deep breath and grew a second horn. He charged a ball between them and looked at his sister's nonchalant face. “Don't hesitate,” she advised. “They'll smell it and give you hell.”
        Una glared at her brother, “What are you waiting for?” Still Duo held his shot. “Do it already!”
        “I'm so sorry,” he said, choking back a tear.
        “Don't apologize!” She said trying to hold back her own tears. If that idiot had just done she wouldn't be feeling this. Why did he have to hesitate. “Just kill me!”
        Duo tried to force the magic to start yet nothing would happen. “I’m sorry.”
        “Please, it'll be alright,” she said calming herself. “You can be so stupid sometimes.”
        “I’m so useless,” He stomped cracking the stone beneath him.
        “Damn it Duo!” Una’s voice rang out trying to reach her brother, “I failed, you have to kill me. That doesn’t mean you have to die. Kill the bastard changeling that made you do it.”
        He let the fireball hit her. There was more energy in it than he thought he put in there. The bars of her cell were warped by the heat and force of the blast. He felt the tears on his face and immediately removed the source of the problem. Taking a deep breath and clearing the emotions from his head and body he stepped out into the hall.
        “You blinked,” the commander said as he walked out of the door. “Help the squad that was supposed to get Playtime. They ran into a stumbling block.”
---
        Scott heard the blast down the hallway. He heard a scream and saw the dust and smoke. Instantly Twilight's horn glowed.
        The next thing he knew was he had been engulfed in purple light and was a few yards from a charred body; it had been propelled down the hallway on a fireball. The holes in its legs gave it away as a changeling. It wasn't moving and it wasn't healing. A closer inspection showed that it wasn't going to start. The smell of burnt flesh reached his nostrils and Scott clenched his talons.
        A quick glance down the hallway revealed a praetorian. Its back was turned, focused on something out the window. Fireballs were charging between its horns. Scott hoped that he could make them explode on the changeling's head. Somewhere during his charge down the hall he grabbed a sword. 
        One of his best friends had died. Scott's mind was wrapping around that, Ancro was dead. He had died in Equestria, a place his friend had always wanted to go. That changeling had turned one of the best experiences of his friend's life and killed him during it. The more the griffin thought about it the more his blood boiled. The changeling hadn't noticed him. Scott let out his rage in the form of a war cry as he brought the sword down on the changeling's neck.
        The sword cracked one of the horns and the fireballs dissipated. The praetorian screeched in shock from another individual sneaking up on him and rage that some griffin could've been that stupid. If he hadn't seen him at the last second then the spell could've gone off right there and killed them both.
        Although with the blind rage coming from the sword swinging griffin the praetorian doubted he cared. His claw came up to hit his opponents exposed neck and end this fight quickly. However a sudden spike in magic had his foreleg covered in a purple aura while the griffin brought the sword down on his forehead. Immediately he looked down the hallway and found the source of the magic. Not having the time for a fireball he launched a ball of green goo at her face. She managed to duck away just in time to avoid it hitting her face and only getting her horn.
        The praetorian was actually mildly curious as to why this griffin was so blindly angry at him. Though not enough for him to interrogate him. The sword came down again but this time the praetorian was prepared and took it to his armored foreleg. The impact was enough to lift the griffin off the ground. The praetorian dodged the strong wing coming around to hit him and countered by using his free claw to grab the other wing. The sharp claws pierced the flesh like it wasn’t there and when he found the ever so fragile bone that made up the wings he crushed it.
        He expected the griffin to go down from such a hit and it was true… for a moment. After that moment was up the griffin let out a scream and kept charging. 

(Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter more than I did. Not sure if it was because I was battling writer's block through it or if any of the other factors added up to mess with it. Thanks to my editors for not tracking me down and killing me for my butchery of the English language in this one. Also sorry for the delay in posting, with moving out and job hunting nothing seems to be working right. If you fave it like it!)

> Frying pans, Impalement, emergency surgery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 32


        Stigandr blindly galloped through the halls, either hoping to accidentally run into his friends or stumble across somepony who could. 
“Take the next left,” Discord advised. Stigandr followed his advice just dodging a stray blast tearing through the hallway behind him.
“Out of curiosity, how competent would you rate Scott in a fight? Against a praetorian if you want reference,” Discord asked nonchalantly. Scott had only been second on Stigandr's worry list. The question knocked him to a tie with Ancro.
“Where is he?”
        “Quick and to the point. Well it just so happens that he ran into a changeling corpse and his line of thought reasoned it to be Ancro,” Discord's flippant tone was already getting on Stigandr's nerves. “Not that is actually was Ancro, it was Specs, she'll be sorely missed. I've already wrote her eulogy. Would like to hear it? It's sure to soften even the hardest of hearts.”.
    “Discord, I if you don't tell me where they are you’ll spend the rest of your days in stone,” Stigandr said through grit teeth. “Regardless of what you do to me.”
    There was a pause. Long enough to make Stigandr think the draconequus was gone. “No need to be so rude,” Discord smiled. “Manners, what is it with you all and that? I swear, Ancro is the only gentlemen amongst you three. Scott is currently in the middle of a heated battle with a very frustrated praetorian. West wing of the palace. He's doing relatively well. Meaning that he isn't dead...yet.” .
     Stigandr dug deep into his personal reserves and ran while the voice of Discord fell silent in his head. The unicorn noticed the guards were starting to get more organized. That was good, the princesses were busy with the changelings outside. From the looks of it they needed all the help they could get.        
---
        
        Shift sat in the center of his cell, staring at the door and waiting for his end. He noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere and the realization hit him. Changelings were waiting for him. They could've been from the restaurant to keep him silent or they could've been praetorians sent to kill a deserter. He didn’t recognize any of them and was sharing a block with praetorians, he was betting the latter. He hoped it would be quick. Granted, they were praetorians; no matter how quick they’d fill his last moment with agony. 
“You are taking this whole imminent death thing much better than I would.” Immediately Shift recognized the voice, it was the same one that he heard in the laundry room. “I mean, look at you. Such dignified, silent acceptance of the inevitable. It truly is admirable.” 
    “There's a ring on my horn, I'm starving, and those are probably praetorians. I couldn't do anything to them.” Shift swallowed feeling as though a rope had been tightened around his neck. A sense of helplessness that he had been managing to stave off had hit him. If he wasn't being watched, he'd curl in the corner and cry.
    “Yes, but you are not alone,” the voice replied, “for I am here to help.” 
“I remember the last time you helped me,” Shift said in disdain. “I don't know who you are, but I know enough to know you are a manipulator, and nothing is free from you.” 
        “Isn't that the way the world works?” The voice smirked, “you can't get something for nothing, especially if your life is on the line.”
    “I know, but it's what you want in exchange,” Shift responded. The changeling's eyes darted to his cell's door. The praetorians were taking their time. Did they want to savor his fear?
    “You haven't even heard what I was offering in exchange for saving your life,” the voice said.
    “I'm finding that more terrifying than what the praetorians will do to me,” the changeling said..
    “You need to be more like your sister, shed some positive light on the situation,” the voice said. “Put a smile on. Given the whole situation, I have a feeling you'll be pardoned or paroled at the very least.”
    “The ponies are just going to let me walk around!” Shift shouted, the anger and fear he had reigned in so skillfully started to boil over. “In case you didn't notice, I'm not on their favorite species list.”
    “No need to be angry with me. It was your sister's dying wish for me to save you, but if you won't agree to an unknown stipulation then I'll leave you to your fate.” The voice changed to a more flippant tone and Shift saw the shadow walking away.
        “How?”
        “A praetorian at the palace,” he replied, turning around and facing the changeling. “She was worried about you until the end.”
        The tears the changeling had been holding back started to pour.
        “Is that a yes? You want me to save you?” the voice asked.
        Shift only nodded. There was an audible pop of knuckles and the voice said something about how this may hurt a bit. The door creaked open and two changelings walked in. They fired, Shift felt himself fall apart as.
---
    Stigandr heard what could only be described as an eagle's roar. Once more digging into reserves he hadn't used since Parris Island, he came to a blown-out section of wall perched a hundred yards from the changeling. From his vantage point he saw the source. It was far, but Stigandr could easily make out who was winning. Scott's wings were limp as well as his foreleg. Yet even in his sorry state, the griffon was trying to press on.
    Seeing his friend's desperate plight and rage, he took a deep breath while charging his horn. Not caring that he had never fired from this distance, he remembered his training from boot camp. The United States Marine Corps has three ranks for shooters. The lowest is Marksman, next is Sharpshooter, with Expert the highest. Stigandr had scored three points below Expert. 
    His horn glowed brown as Stigandr focused on the single praetorian. Scott had hit the ground and wasn't moving. A brown bolt of magic fired and hit the changeling squarely in the neck. It did little more than tickle his target, but it prevented him from doing any further harm to Scott.  
    Stigandr started firing relentlessly into the hall. Soon the praetorian gathered enough of his senses to return fire, forcing Stigandr to seek cover. For a while, they seemed evenly matched, then the praetorian started to fire larger blasts, closer together. They consistently destroyed whatever cover the unicorn could find. Eventually it caught him out in the open. Stigandr's horn flared brightly and deflected the large fireballs around himself, firing back whenever he could.
        After a momentary lapse in fire, Stigandr thought he had won, and none too soon. His ears were ringing and he felt like his horn was about to melt off. Granted, before the ring he wouldn't have been able to keep the pace he had going. He'd have to thank Celestia after this was over and see if they come in higher constraints of power. By the time he was done, Stigandr wanted to be able to lift the moon.
        An enormous green fireball tore out of the hall. Immediately Stigandr fired a bolt only to see the ball roll to avoid it. Stigandr realized the changeling had engulfed itself in fire and was now trying to tackle him. The unicorn's horn flared brighter than it had ever been as he tried to desperately redirect the changeling. Now even more thankful for that ring around his horn, his telekinesis seized the praetorian. Not only could he stop the changeling though, this time he was actually pushing it back. In his few months in Equestria and time he spent sparring with Ancro, and even with his fight in the prison, he had never put such strain on his horn and his own magical reserves..
        The flames that engulfed the changeling were snuffed out as the creature struggled to move itself from the unicorn's power. In frustration, the praetorian grew several extra wings, only managing to slow the pace Fighting every inch of the way, the changeling's body swapped to a position where its chest faced Stigandr. The irate preatorian was confused about his new spread position until a chance glance backwards. A wooden beam stood out as a casualty from the fight with the unicorn, sharpened to a fierce point by a fluke of the grain. The changeling roared in desperation as its sensitive wing muscles started to be pierced by the sharp timber. Stigandr felt the resistance from the timber and pressed onward with even more force. 
---

        Duo's eyes adjusted for the low light of the prison hospital. He immediately questioned what the praetorians considered to be stealth. The hospital of the prison was a mess of broken glass, cracked walls, and various bits of anatomy. The crystals that had been moved to decorate as well as light the halls had, for the most part, been destroyed. The few holdouts only let out a small trickle of light for his own eyes to amplify. 
        The stumbling block they had run into was an extremely stubborn griffin and some pony guards. They had put up a much harder fight than the praetorians had anticipated. It was mostly done by the time Duo got there. The commander most likely relocated him to keep him out of his fins. 
        They reached the only occupied room in the ICU. Playtime was still in the bed, heavily sedated hooked up to several machines monitoring the psychotic pegasus' vitals. If the charts or memos indicated anything, he was going to be seeing several therapists over the course of the next few weeks. Duo had to laugh at how stupidly optimistic the ponies were. Several of his long time therapists thought that the 'progress' that was made with him was jeopardized by the changeling's attack on the pegasus. He tried not to break down laughing when he read that they wanted the pony and the changeling to approach each other for an 'apology'. Una would've loved to see this. 
        It became evident that Playtime was sedated to keep him under control, not to deal with any pain. The ponies had proven competent in this regard at least. The only thing that remained were the scars. A quick glance revealed that injuries were there to cause more pain, than anything else, consistent with a changeling letting themselves get a bit drunk on fear and suffering. Levitating the limp body onto his back, Duo wished that the deserter had been disciplined enough to kill the pegasus. Not for any distaste to psychopathic pony or wishing to save the ponies some effort and ease their day to day lives. He just didn't want to carry the sedated bastard.
---

        Ancro trudged into the pitch black kitchen that his senses told him Fluttershy was cowering inside. If finding one had made it to where he could barely walk, he had no idea how he was going to get the rest of the Mane Six together. He hoped Spike had made it Twilight without any trouble. If anything it would mean he'd be getting the cavalry sooner rather than later. 
        Once more, Ancro made another promise to never let this happen again. It was much worse than the last time. The changeling felt the battle outside was best blamed. The fear that filled the room helped a little bit. It was a bit like the fog from taking a painkiller; not killing the pain, just making him apathetic towards it, if also a bit dizzy and uneven when he walked. 
        What happened next was hard to place in any order. He couldn't remember if he hit the ground and then the clang happened and his head felt even worse, or if the clang came first. Regardless, his head hurt and he was on the ground and it was still dark. Reaching up, he felt a sore spot on the back of his head. Squinting his eyes in hopes of focusing a bit better, he looked to see if he had run into anything. His eyes had been known to get worse with migraines, often times losing other things than his already questionable depth perception. Four yellow legs and a pink tail greeted him before closing his eyes again in a long blink. 
        “Why'd you do that?” Ancro whimpered, realization hitting him like the blunt object Fluttershy had used.
        “Ancro?” Fluttershy said dropping an extremely loud metal object feet from his head.
        The changeling managed a small nod through the pain.
        “Oh, I'm so sorry,” she whispered, then continued in a voice getting more high pitched by the second, “I-I heard the explosions and when I checked outside I saw the changelings attacking. I didn't know what was happening and I didn't know where to go.”
        “Please stop talking,” Ancro said between tears. “Get the elements.” 
        Fluttershy asked the question he hoped he wouldn't hear. “What about you?” 
        “I'm fine,” Ancro said trying to stand. Fluttershy wasn't going to leave him unless she had some assurance he was okay. “Honestly, I've been worse.”
        “No, you are not fine,” she said, coming next to him and supporting the changeling on her wing. He felt her intoxicating fear turn to worry. “I don't think I've ever seen anyone more far from fine than you are.”
        “Burnt myself out,” he confessed, “everything hurts.” 
        “What do you mean you burnt yourself out?” she said. He felt her worry turn to care and concern, and soon enough little snippets of love started to get in. Not enough to do much. He was burning through it almost as quickly as he was getting it. It did, however, make the pain somewhat bearable. 
        “Spike and I were ambushed,” Ancro said. “burnt myself out buying him time to get away.” Suddenly, the tower shook from its base to the top. It was hopefully Ancro's migraine, but everything seemed to develop a slight lean. 
        “Burnt out or not, I'm not abandoning you,” Fluttershy stomped, much to Ancro's pain. She wrapped a wing around him and started to lead him towards the door. “I read some of Twilight's notes, and changelings get more love from being in close proximity to the source.” 
        Fluttershy was hugging him. Secretly, in the back of Ancro's mind, he marked that off his list.
---
        Beneath the cover of a cloud, three praetorians had taken stock and were observing the battle. From their vantage point, they saw the princesses steadily gain control while the pony guards organized for what was their inevitable counter-attack. The palace had been mostly evacuated. This was obvious by the princesses’ more aggressive movements and use of more destructive spells. They could taste the acceptance of their comrades sacrificing everything for their queen. 
        “The commander is obviously irate,” one of them joked, licking the air. Even from this distance they could taste the bitterness of his frustration. 
        “And the princesses are not happy, either,” another said, looking at the blue and white dots that were now steadily out-matching their comrades. 
        “And here we thought we wouldn't get a chance to see that traitor's resourcefulness,” the third smiled. A sudden awareness ran through the changelings' senses. Looking back, they saw five streaks of thunderclouds coming from the direction of Cloudsdale.
        “Ire, I know you are itching for a fight, but if you go that far off you are on your own.” 
        “Wasn't thinking of it,” Ire replied. “I was thinking we go down there, kill the traitor, and leave.”
        “Sounds like a plan,” the third one said. “hopefully he’s dead and we get to leave.” 
        With a nod the three changelings dived onto the palace. A quick survey revealed that for the most part it was evacuated, with the exception of the infirmary, and a few pockets of trapped and injured ponies. 
        “Well, looks like someling had a bad day,” Ire chuckled, looking at their fellow praetorian. They couldn't tell if he was dead or in too much shock from having a large piece of wood rammed from his back to his chest. It didn't help that he had gone from apex to regular with said piece of wood lodged in his chest cavity. “Any chance of him not being dead?”
        “If he's not already, he will be when the timber comes out,” another said sniffing some blood from the floor. “Idiot, he never could heal worth a damn.” 
        “Wouldn't be the only one,” another one said, buzzing over the large trail of blood. “I'd say he had a few fights lined up.”
        “Yeah, but look what he bagged,” the third said, moving some of the rubble, then effortlessly levitating the charred remains of a changeling. “The great hunter caught his prey.”
        “That's a relief,” Ire said. “Now we just need to find the commander and evac.” 
        The palace shook as they felt another of their comrades die. Celestia had turned the tide and her rage was terrifying. It was proving to be too bitter for even Ire's taste.
        “Given the circumstances, I think it'd be for the best if we left for the best teleportation spot and go.”
        The other two agreed and headed for the top of the mountain.
----
        “I need the operating room prepped now!” the doctor shouted after the purple glare had left his eyes. With practiced precision, the doctor's horn ran over the body of the dying griffin. The pony who had teleported him in was still cleaning a green wax-like substance off her horn..
        “He has severe second- and third-degree burns, deep lacerations across his chest, rear legs, wings, and forelegs. Several compound fractures in the wings and left foreleg, the left foreleg is dislocated at the shoulder,” Twilight said, getting the rest of the accursed slime from her horn. Meanwhile, the doctor and a nurse had levitated Scott onto a gurney. 
        “Left out the broken ribs and shattered wrist, but all things considered, decent triage,” the doctor said as his horn glowed with what Twilight recognized as a sterilization spell. “If you have no further business, do you mind showing yourself out?”
        “I'm sorry,” Twilight's horn was already glowing and in a flash of purple she was gone.
        “Cross, you're in charge until I'm done in operating.” The doctor then braced himself as the palace quivered once again. “Is anypony well enough to form a shield spell? I'd rather not be digging anymore debris out of this griffin than necessary.”.
        A few hooves from bandaged guards went up.
        “Then what in the name of Tarterus are you all waiting for? Cast one around the hospital wing. Engineering isn't my strong suit but that should help with the blessed shaking.” The doctor swore under his breath as he walked into the operating room. “You ever operate on a griffin before?”
        “No sir,” the new nurse said. All things considered, she was taking this amazingly well. still extremely nervous, no matter how well she hid it. 
        “This'll be a learning experience for both of us.” His horn glowed to completely sedate the griffin.
---
        Spike had finally made it to the bridge that led to the tower. Words couldn't express how deeply he wished to grow right now. A few inches would be nice. It would certainly make getting over the rubble much easier. Not that this section of the palace was in bad shape, especially compared to the throne room and Luna's tower. He had been able to make them out on his way over.
        Seeing the shining structures he had been around his entire life reduced to rubble struck a chord with the dragon. If he ever got a hold of one of those changelings, he'd teach them a thing or two. Speaking of changelings, he needed to find Ancro as soon as possible as well. He still believed the changelings were after the Elements of Harmony. He didn't know how much danger he was in. 
        Ancro struck him as the type who wasn't unfamiliar with danger. If Twilight was right and the Triumvirate were mercenaries under some kind of spell it couldn't be that far from the truth. He tried to stop worrying about the changeling. If he was some kind of grizzled mercenary veteran, this was probably just another day of work for him, anyways. He probably took care of the changeling from the hall and was now on his way to help the princesses. He did say that they hired him, right? 
        “Yeah, he did say that. What's a changeling expert supposed to do when changelings attack?” Spike said aloud. “I wonder what he's getting paid in. I hope it's gems. If it's gems he may let me taste some of them for his own curiosity.”
        The little dragon entertained this train of thought. Imagining himself sitting back and eating gemstones while Ancro tasted them through him. It originally struck him as kinda weird, but changelings were, after all, a different species. Maybe he was part of the norm. 
        Spike continued to entertain the idea. It helped to distract him from how dangerous everything was. It also distracted Spike from everything else around. Him he didn't even notice how close he was to the tower until the familiar shape of a changeling emerged from behind the corner.
        Closing his eyes and turning his head away, he slashed blindly at the changeling.
        “Spike!” The familiar voice of Fluttershy reached his ears. Spike opened his eyes to see Ancro and Fluttershy staring at him.
        “I told you to go get Twilight!” Ancro growled, as they made a hasty trot across the walkway..
        “I did! She was with Scott, and he said they were after you!” 
        
---
        Luna tucked her wings and half-corkscrewed through an arch of a bridge. The dark alicorn's horn flared and let loose a devastating torrent of magic upon the first changeling to clear the obstacle. The creature was left a black spec against the bridge's surface, and as Luna finished her corkscrew. She had removed one of the changelings from the fray. The creature's demise had bought Luna an instant to glance at her sister's plight. 
        The changelings had kept the palace between themselves and the sun princess, opting for a less aggressive approach, using the ponies as shields to prevent Celestia from attacking in full force. Meanwhile, they fired on her with near impunity. Their plan wasn't going to work forever. Eventually, they had to know that the palace would be evacuated.
        Luna artfully dodged a changeling's swipe and managed kick it along the armored head. She should've capitalized on the moment, but her head was trying to figure out their goals. Luna wouldn't rate pointless destruction as an appropriate use of their queen's resources. She continued to ponder this while fighting the changelings. 
        The attack was too well planned to be some frivolous harassment. It was obviously a distraction. An attempt on their lives would need to be far more powerful and Luna genuinely doubted the changelings would put killing the princesses at the top of their list. Even then, it would have to part of a larger scheme. A simultaneous attack on Equestria would be far too much, especially with this as the distraction. She could already see the guards organizing a counter-attack. It looked a bit sloppy, almost like the guard was leaderless. 
        Both Luna's eyes and horn flared with the realization, her spell finding the nearest changeling and turning it to a pile of ash. How could she had been so stupid? If the look Celestia gave her was any indication, she just realized it too. With the ponies evacuated from this part of the palace, the sisters were free to fight without restraining themselves.


----
        Shining Armor hadn’t been able to find out where they were going. Westwards from the smoking debris of the palace was his best guess. Exhausted he tried to ignite his horn desperate to form a shield to encompass himself and his wife. In the brief glimpses he had gotten of her cocoon she was in a similar predicament. No worse, she’d been through this before she never spoke of it. There was no way Shining Armor was going to let her go through that again. He needed to find a way out, and as his horn brushed against the wall of his cocoon a plan came to mind.

        (Yes I’m back, been busy and dealing with writers block cause by personal things. Let’s get some of them out of the way. For starters if you haven’t read my blog Scott is now at Parris Island South Carolina. That’s right, he’s realizing his dream of becoming a Marine. After living on my own (with three/two other people (Scott technically didn’t spend a lot of time here most of it was at his girlfriend’s which kinda removed his right to complain about things like the thermostat but that’s beside the point) I’m going to be moving back into my parents when my lease is up on my apartment. It fits better with my plans since a 6 month lease is kind of pointless. (If my plans come to fruition which I’ll find out more on the 20th of this month). I quite my airport job which means I’ll be going back to only subway so stories will be written by a less apethetically tired me. That’s all for now big thanks to my new editor Double Zebra I’m always looking for more and please remember you can message me. It doesn’t bother me and helps keep me focused.)

> Ambushes, narrow escapes, and bluffs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 33        


        Fluttershy nearly carried Ancro out of the kitchen, keeping the frying pan. Ancro wasn't in any shape to protect himself much less her, he couldn't even open his eyes and his nose was still bleeding badly, and she just noticed the crack at the base of his horn.
        “Fluttershy, I can feel you beating yourself up, please don't.” Ancro's voice was flatly analytical. “I need everything I can get and I don't like the taste of...pity.”
        “I'm sorry it's just...I thought...you'd you know, heal faster.”
        “Not now, I'm trying to keep from vomiting all over you.” Ancro said, upon feeling her confusion added, “I'll explain later.”
        “Okay, it's fine, I take care of animals all the time some little critter getting sick on me is something I'm used to.”
        “Yeah I may need to enlist your help for my back after this is over, I've got some knots that are murdering me.” He chuckled hoping he hadn't crossed a line about knowing too much. At this point he was beyond caring about boundaries, his mind was finally clearing up and he could focus on the task at hand without tripping over his own brain. “Am I the first changeling you've encountered today?”
        She thought for a moment, “Not unless they've been disguised, sorry.”
        “Weird,” Ancro spoke thoughtfully, “I'd figure they'd go after you first. No offense.”
        “Don't worry, I know I'm not as tough as Applejack and Rainbow Dash, as resourceful as Rarity, talented like Twilight, and not as...Pinkie as Pinkie.”
        “Yeah, and that's what doesn't sense,” Ancro said, “I mean why not go after you, all of you are needed to make the Elements work?”
        “I think so,” She answered.
        “Then why start with me and Spike?”
        “Umm...I may not know as much about this sort of stuff, but what if my friends aren't the target?”
        “Then who?”
        “Ancro!” Spike's shout grated on the changeling's still sensitive ear nubs. The dragon was running through the rubble as fast as his stubby limbs would carry him. “They're not after the elements of harmony!”
---
        
        Hiding in the smoldering remains of Luna's tower the commander watched in disbelief while his praetorians died. He was hoping that Velus would've killed the changeling before dieing. Instead the the other traitor had gotten wind of him and stalled long enough to injure him. He felt her die so enacting his revenge would be pointless. The traitor had already seen to cost him enough time as is.
        Amidst the rubble he reached out until he sensed his target. Shrouding himself in green flames taking his time to take his form. Large, powerful black wings emerged from the cyclone first, insect wings had their advantages but sometimes gliding and power were necessary. Next the chiseled forearms and torso of a minotaur, ever since he fought one he had grown fond of it the brute strength. An eagles legs for the back, ideal for clutching and pinning a target as well as impaling them. The tail of another great bird to ease the steering and add morel lift. The head, he was always partial to a the streamline and flexibility of an eel decorated with three horns turned forward. A final flash and he armored himself, preferring to follow the dynamic of a crab rather than beetle.
        Spreading his wings he left his perch silently diving for his target. Ancro had stopped and was talking with something. The presence was nervous and he felt Ancro's mood go from that of a guardian to fear and resignation. It was delicious. He shot a fireball, using only enough to destroy the wall not kill the changeling. It had little to do with wanting to kill the traitor with his bare hands. The commander needed to conserve energy.

---

        “Down!” Screamed Ancro kicking both Fluttershy, and Spike out of the way. If not for Spike's timely warning about the actual target, Ancro would've gotten between Fluttershy and the explosion like a self sacrificing idiot. He'd have to thank the little guy later.
        A massive arm reached for him through the dust. If not for an accidental roll when he kicked the two out of the way he wouldn't have been able to dodge. Only the fingertips brushed him, but they had enough power to finish Ancro's mid air spin. Internally he gulped and hoped cavalry would be there soon.
        His time with Fluttershy had given Ancro a little energy. It wouldn't be enough to hurt the changeling, all he could do was hope to stall. Through the brief contact Ancro felt the tension for the next blow forming through impossibly powerful muscles. Using the small amount of energy he charged his hooves to blast him in another direction. Specs had told him to avoid doing that since it was waste of energy for short term gain. In the split second he had to be else where he blasted himself out the only exit to give him some distance. The very nice hole that had been created. Maybe he'd last a bit longer in the air?
---
                Blue Blood followed the crash around the corner, he hadn't gotten a good look at what had hit but he knew better than to think it was Celestia or Luna. His horn began casting a spell and fantasies abounded in his mind. Perhaps a medal or award for valor was in his future, after all that fortune telling show pony had said there were great things in his future, this had to be the first step. A small smile curled his lips.
        Afterwords maybe Celestia would finally give him the recognition and position he deserved. Maybe even teach him to raise the sun. That would surely make him the envy of all the nobles in Equestria he'd have the title of honorary sun raiser. A title no other could boast!
        Confident the spell was strong enough to tear the over grown bug to shreds he turned the corner and fired blindly into the cloud of debris. The cloud parted for the spell and struck home. The horror that was within the cloud barely flinched.
---
        Only after the explosion propelled him out the hole did Ancro realize he was too burnt out to do anything, he laughed at the irony of short term gain, so he chuckled. The chuckle turned into a giggle, which eventually became straight laughter. He couldn't help it, after two failures in his own life what gets him is his own short-sightedness. Then everything stopped. The debris that was following him out slowed and stopped and Ancro realized so did he.
        “This is neat,” Ancro said trying to spin in what he thought would be zero-g.
        “You're in a better mood than I thought you would be.”
        “True,” Ancro said after a moment of thought, “Of course I can't be too mad at you, we're the ones playing with genie in a bottle.”
        “And they call me insane,” Discord stated. “Dare I say you're as mad as the March Hare.”
        “And here I've always wanted to be the hatter,” Ancro shrugged, “In the end we're all mad men at a tea party.”
        “I did enjoy that scene,” Discord pondered, “Actually the whole book was rather enjoyable.”
        “Have you read Through the Looking Glass yet?”
        “Yes, I've become quite a connoisseur of Wonderland lore.” Discord said, “The one with Depp was kind of hit or miss.”
        “I feel the same way.”
        “You know they're planning a sequel?”
        “Wow, didn't think it made enough.” Ancro said in disbelief, “I mean I liked it well enough but there were some scenes that could've been handled better.”
        “I agree, especially the Hatter's inner struggles with madness.” Discord added.
        “Yes, it's added as a sloppy subplot made to give him depth.” Ancro began going into an argument and discussion he had many times before Discord cut him off.
        “I'm sorry but you don't mind if I cut you off?” Discord said, “I've used a lot of power today and I'm not sure how much longer I can suspend you.”
        “You've come to offer me a cliche deal haven't you?” Ancro teased, too far gone from pain, exhaustion, and fear to care.
        “Only the most cliché deal.” Discord gibed in return. “In exchange for enough power to survive you'll owe me on small favor.”
        “And that would be?”
        “I haven't decided yet,” Discord smiled, “nothing to harm your other two friends, I assure you.”
        Ancro noted time started to move, either that or he was picking up speed as he slow motion fell. He took a deep breath to consider his predicament. Before smiling. “Discord, I'm going to have to turn you down.”
        “Really?” Discord asked shocked.
        “Yep, really,” Ancro smiled trying to appear confident.
        “May I ask why?” Discord asked scratching his chin in the frozen time scape.
        “The answer is quite simple,” Ancro smiled, “It would be irresponsible to give you one favor from a being such as myself.”
        “A being such as yourself?” Discord asked folding his forelimbs.
        “Have you forgotten? Discord, I'm perfect.”

---        
        
        Fluttershy stood up her face hurt from where Ancro had saved her from the brunt of the blast. But that was nothing compared to the pain where a particularly lively rock hit her chest. A dust cloud had arisen from the debris and inside it she heard noises. An explosion, a crunch, Ancro's scream.
        “Spike to the rescue!” Fluttershy turned and to her horror saw Spike wielding a broken board and charging into the cloud. She needed to do something help Ancro, stop Spike, cower? No now was not the time to cower Ancro was in trouble and even though she didn't know him that well nothing neither pony or changeling needed to-a blast of magic blew the cloud away and revealed a beast that not even in Fluttershy's darkest nightmares could've existed. The very nature of the thing was stomach churning and horrible. The unnatural grace with which the creature moved and the terrifying that was revealed with every twitch and movement.
        She looked to see Spike had dropped the board and had started backing up mouth agape. Twilight told him about how he had stood up to a group of adolescent dragons. This monster was much worse. The mysterious spell that hit had broken through the hard crab like shell. The monster faltered slightly a moment later the injury was gone.
        With sickening fluidity its head twisted and a fireball shot from one of it's forward curved horns. A shriek was heard simultaneously with the impact, a moment later the shock wave and the heat washed over her taking the dust and debris with it. A brown unicorn stood between a panicking Prince Blueblood and the changeling.
        Appearing only slightly charred he looked none worse the wear for taking such a spell directly. The changeling did not stare in awe. It leapt at the unicorn every sinew in it's body showing.
---
        
        Time went back to normal. Ancro patiently waited, a calm smile washing over his face. Discord had to be bluffing. Call it too much self worth but he figured Discord would try to keep him and his friends around. He, no they, the all three members of the Triumvirate were vital to his schemes.
        Ancro kept waiting, then he felt it. A sense of urgency, anger, duty, and most importantly loyalty. Smiling as it closed in on him. Pinkie might be best pony, but she was a very close second. He relaxed his body using some of the training he got from Specs to shut off parts and increase his bodies ability to survive the change in momentum. Even with the minor levels of toon physics Ancro didn't want to take a chance.
        Her hooves snatched him from mid-air. His fragile stomach lurched from the shift in momentum but luckily that was about it as they gained altitude. The changeling at first tried to lift his head to see where they were going but gave up. Dang with how little energy he had he was amazed throwing up wasn't an issue.
        He then looked at Rainbow Dash. Specs had told him that you could skim off the top of some ponies with more robust personalities and they not even notice it. Still though...he'd need to keep his honor intact. Fluttershy had been a willing donor. Anything from Dash was going to be a bit more actively taking.
        “Dash, can I snack on you a bit?” Ancro asked, doing his best not to sound too creepy.
        “What?” She asked.
        “Middle of battle, friends in danger, low energy, need snack, asking you.” Ancro replied trying to stay brief. He hadn't been sure if it was the wind rushing past or that he failed to not make himself sound creepy.
        “Is this your fault?” She asked. Empathic powers weren't needed to determine what a guilty verdict would mean.
        “No, will explain later.” Anccro said, “Feed now, save Fluttershy.”
        “You better.” She said taking a breath and relaxing and at that point Ancro realized he had never done this before.
---
        Stigandr had been just in time to save the poor sap who had picked a fight with the praetorian. A half glance informed him it was Blueblood. He'd find out why later in the meantime, he needed to survive this guy. Luckily he finally had teleporting down and was able to blink out of the way of the charge but was both surprised and terrified to find the changeling almost on him when he came out.
        It was too soon to teleport again. His horn glowed and a magical wall appeared before him then it was gone as the changeling smashed through it. His magical construct only softening the blow to his chest.
        Stigandr new from reflex the second blow was coming and reared up intent on gaining distance and being able to use his hooves to block the next shot. He couldn't dodge and only managed to block costing him his right foreleg from the hammer fist. He groaned through the pain firing a spell directly into the changeling's face. It's eel like neck ducked under the spell going beneath his guard intent on coming up around his neck. If not for his timely teleport down the hall he would've been done for then.
        Stigandr managed to recover first the changeling having overly committed to the attack thinking to end it immediately. His spell struck home directly under the wing. All three horns charged and fired immediately after.
        Anchoring himself with his three good legs he deflected the blast around him as best he could the spell still driving him to his knees and blinding him. His horn was half-way charged when the changeling's palm connected with his snout. Sending him sprawling backwards miraculously he didn't lose focus on his spell.
        Pushing through the haziness and iron taste Stigandr fired his spell.
---
        “Shit, fly by Stigs, we need a distraction,” Ancro said trying to focus on how much he was taking from the pegasus.
        “No problem, have a plan?”
        “I have one, and it's completely irresponsible, destructive, and shitting bats crazy!” Ancro smile's bordered on half drunk. He'd have to ask later what exactly happens when you take from a pony. Cause he couldn't tell where his insanity began and where Rainbow Dash's attitude took over. It would have to wait though as they were closing the gap and he wouldn't have much time to talk.
        “Stigs!” Ancro screamed as they got close.He could tell his friend was in rough shape but still steadfast. “Full nelson!”
        Being able to sense understanding made screaming details much easier. Unfortunately that didn't prevent the praetorian from sensing and hearing the changeling.
        “Rainbow Dash climb!” Ancro ordered and she followed. “We need to max out the ceiling.”
        “What's your crazy plan?” Rainbow Dash asked narrowly dodging the changeling's ranged attacks.
        “He'll kill me if I fight straight up.” Ancro explained, “Even if flew into the ground as fast as I could go and he stood still and took it.”
        “Oh?” Rainbow Dash asked Ancro could taste the adrenline coming off her. “How fast were you thinking?”
        “Sonic Rainboom.” Ancro shouted.

So all is well in my life sorry for the major delays although slightly less major than the last chapter. Big thanks to my editors for being patient and don't worry I should have the next chapter done by the end of the month to early january. On the news of personal life Scott's set to graduate from Parris Island the twelfth of this month and I'm set to go in the may 8th. I'm aiming for CBRN in the Marine Corps Reserves, I have the scores for it 96 on the ASVAB. As usual feed back is enjoyed and appreciated as well as pointing out my errors. 
> Flaming Spiraling Sonic Rainboom
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 34
    

    Ancro hadn't ceased to impress Discord. The human turned changeling's gambling habits were holding up, the same could be said of his morals. Pity, it'd be wonderful to imagine what kind of chaos they could bring. It was entertaining to see him think on the fly so, the draconequus stretched out reaching for his popcorn as Ancro's 'plan' unfold. A smile curled across his lips, he'd have to test Ancro's improvisation further and see just how much thinking on his feet he could do. As Rainbow Dash began to stall Discord's attention changed to the changeling that he had...evaporated around the cell.
---
        The pain stopped and Shift was standing in a large crater, the bars of his cells had been blasted inwards, but he had survived. The praetorians were gone far enough away to be out of his sense of perception. Yet he was alive, he didn't even want to know how it had been the most painful experience of his life.
        “Alright, they should be gone now,” the voice spoke sounding distracted and tired. 
“What if they come back?”
“I've expended quite a bit of my energy, I can't evaporate you again...well I could...just putting you back together would be...questionable...at best.” Shift could taste the sarcasm, “They won't, they're in much to much of a hurry...as long as they keep thinking you're dead. So just don't jeopardize that."
        Shift nodded.
        “Good lad, now remember lights out at ten and there's dinner in the fridge,” It said, “I'll stop in to check on you later for now I have to make sure Ancro survives.”
        “What do you mean by survives?”
        There was an uncomfortably long pause, long enough to make Shift think he had been ignored. Then the shadow smiled. “If an aerodynamic changeling were to collide with a preatorian while doing that little crash into the ground thing you do in the midst of a sonic rainboom what the fallout be for both parties?”
---
        Frantically the commander gave chase. Ancro had survived, somehow he must have accounted for Rainbow Dash flying by. He had barely sensed her through the battle though! Did that mean this was a coordinated counter attack? Blueblood and Stigandr's timing was almost perfect! It didn't make sense, when and how would they be able to coordinate like this!
        Another powerful flap of his wings reassured the commander that soon it wouldn't matter long. Skilled flyer or not, the Element of Loyalty was still just an undisciplined pony, her emotions gave away her every move.
        At first he bracketed his fire, narrowing her options into a small funnel that he controlled. Part of him wanted to close it off and catch but he knew he had to end it quickly. This was hampered by an increase in drag. A large feeling as though his body was being pulled down like it was made of lead. Sensing magic he turned to see the source of his problem.
---
        “I'm not sure about this.” Rainbow Dash confided as they started to stall, Ancro had never made it up this high and was for whatever reason felt relieved that the air actually became thinner at higher altitudes.The simple parallel to earth bringing him comfort.
        “Oh come on, it'll be fun.” Ancro smiled putting the finishing touches on his body. His first truly original construct, a long rifled black horn protruding from most of his head, no eyes, atrophied wings with the legs tucked as closely as possible. Always a fan of “Rods from Gods” weapon systems in Sci-Fi's he never thought he'd get a chance to be one much less with Rainbow Dash being the cowboy from doctor Strangelove. “I've always wanted to plow into the ground while while igniting my body into a pillar of fire. It'll be like a dream come true.”
        “You're not half b-.” Ancro removed his ears to cut down on drag. Besides the taste had changed enough that he didn't need them anymore and the miniscule energy they drew was needed elsewhere. He turned his eyes off as well. Besides the big ugly praetorian was a huge beacon of frustration. He had no idea what was going on, but Stigs was full-nelsoning him. 
---
        “How long do we have to keep this up!” Blueblood groaned a bead of sweat rolling down his dirty brow.
        “Until I tell you otherwise!” Stigandr barked, glaring Blueblood into going onward.
        “He's looking at us!”
        “Let him, as long as he sees us he's not seeing what Ancro's doing.” The brown unicorn smiled through his grit teeth and tears. His leg was messed up and he knew at least four ribs were broken but, Ancro asked for full nelson and he was going to give this bastard one.
----
        Ancro felt weird going through a final checks for his own person. Everything that could be turned off was, he was working with one atrophied kidney, half a liver, one lung, a nonexistent digestive track, and a whole bunch of other things he knew were important but not quite so much at this time. Who needs pain receptors and sensory nerves anyways? Ancro nodded his dense needle like head for Rainbow to begin her dive.
        As they descended Ancro became aware of several things. Plummeting from high altitudes is just as scary being blind, which struck him as weird since he didn't have depth perception, in his pre-kamikaze dive checks he forgot to turn off his adrenaline glands, and he wasn't sure if he would be able to keep track of the target with all the background magic created by the rainboom. In short he was noticing several large holes in his already questionable plan. Still it was too late to turn back now and he noticed what he assumed was centripetal force build up from the spiral grooved design he had chosen for his horn.
        He could sense the doubts coming from Rainbow Dash as well. Ancro leaned forward trying to show her a modicum of courage and not reveal just how stupid this idea was. If he could keep the charade going up long enough for her to drop him all would be well. The wind picked up as Rainbow accelerated through the aileron roll and the G-s continued to build.
        Ancro could feel it. The physical barrier that they had to get through. It was starting to stretch. Ancro began building up the magic he had getting it to encompass him. Rainbow endured the heat as the changeling endured the pressure, their spinning slowed and Ancro felt the barrier wrap around his threaded horn. There was moment of silence, no movement, no senses, nothing. Then he felt it tear, then rip, it tore open. Ancro and Rainbow Dash accelerated and brought hell with them.
---
        Celestia and Luna took only a second from their fight as the new magic burst forth. It was definitely reminiscent of a Sonic Rainboom the only differences were it was on fire and spinning. Celestia and Luna couldn't figure out which was the more disconcerting. It became obvious who the sources were and that they had to be desperate. 
        They turned to face the sparse few remaining changelings, but found them to be madly clutching their heads shrieking. Quickly they seized the opportunity to capture the changelings hoping they would be more cooperative than the ones in the prison. Then they'd find out exactly what Rainbow Dash and Ancro had done and to who.
---
        Blueblood didn't wait for Stigandr's signal he just let go and ran. Between the light the noise and the heat it was a miracle they weren't cinders! He  didn’t even notice the violet shell surrounding them and ran into it.
        Rubbing his face he saw Twilight Sparkle standing where Stigandr had been, her horn glowing brightly as she maintained the shield. On the contrary Stigandr was barely standing one foreleg buckled under him and breathing raggedly. If this pony could quit his mercenary career he'd be a credit to the guards. Blueblood might even be willing to overlook his past acquaintances and put him in his personal bodyguards. As soon as Celestia let him have some.
---
        Twilight grit her teeth as the sonic rainboom from the deepest depths of Tartarus exploded into spiraling existence. If she had been a few moments later no telling what would happen. Well most likely Spike, Fluttershy, and everpony else would've been thrown from the ever more structurally unsound walkway bridge and with only Stigandr able to teleport...Twilight quickly banished the thoughts for being too gruesome. Besides she needed to focus on keeping the shield up.
        Out of the corner of her eye Twilight saw her two friends recovering. The two of them sat mouths agape at the raw power barreling through the sky. Twilight was both impressed and unnerved, it was easily more than what she was capable of on her best day and the sprinkles on the ice cream it was focused on a point. She hoped Rainbow Dash and Ancro knew what they were doing because if they couldn't control that thing the damage would be catastrophic.
---
        All color and sound were gone, too overloaded to move the commander watched in horror as it headed towards him. Every nerve in his body screamed too move but he couldn't. The light faded as it grew closer to him and time drug by. His natural fear response was too activate his apex forms exceptional adrenal reserves. It wasn't an option though, everything was overloaded, eyes, ears, all of his senses. He had become a prisoner in his own body. Waiting for the executioner’s swing.
---
        Rainbow Dash wasn't going to let go and inwardly Ancro managed to chuckle. He was half and half on whether or not she'd follow him through to the end. He had no hope of sensing her beyond the surface with the tempest of magic that engulfed them. He couldn't even sense their target anymore, hoping he'd be paralyzed by the blast and standing still.
        Much to his relief his worries were unfounded and his horn connected with the changeling's body. For that instant he could sense every fiber of the changeling's body and mind. His frustration, rage, and desperation all there all present, disbelief and annoyance were there as well but to a much lesser extent. The shell hardening in futility, muscles tightening in panic, what he imagined were organs drastically reorganizing themselves. Tucked beneath everything else Ancro sensed it : pure fear and it tasted good. The pause ended and the changeling's armor gave and the spell tore through him...
---
        This was much more intense than what Rainbow Dash had imagined. As soon as the rainboom and changeling fire had mixed it became apparent they couldn't hope to steer it. They had played with fire and now it was time to pay the piper...she paused, that didn't sound right. Analogies aside this was bad. She'd overestimated herself before with stunts but this was much worse. She tried to stay calm and think of a solution, going from basics to air braking to more advanced stuff like the one class she dozed and doodled through on stopping an out of control firestorm. Nothing even came close to this scenario. She had no way out.
        Except, maybe, letting go. Rainbow Dash quickly perished the thought. Even if that wasn't a guaranteed death sentence for Ancro. There was no telling what would happen or where she would end up. The spinning and swirling lights had engulfed her and she wasn't even sure which way was up!
        Regardless it turned out to be too late. The painfully familiar sensation of a skidding collision greeted them as the flaming rainbow tornado skipped across the palace grounds. Desperately she clung to the limp Ancro hoping to wait the energy out as it dissipated. Eventually it came to a halt leaving her and Ancro in smoldering crater somewhere in the palace gardens.
----
        The changelings dropped the cocoons roughly and out of the corner of his eye Princess Cadence could see them encircling her and Shining Armor. Her struggles intensified and she became more and more desperate to break out and save Shining Armor before it was too late. All it did was earn her a the muffled laughter of the changelings who took notice.
        Then the explosion happened. She didn't see what happened but it's affects were immediately noticed on their perpetrators. Breaking their concentration with at least one falling over. That wasn't all, it also tremendously weakened the strength of the cocoons.
        Shining Armor's cocoon burst open his horn glowing brightly. He quickly cast off the first changeling that charged him before casting a bubble around himself and her. The next one wasn't so foolish, instead turning itself into some terrifying beetle horned beetle before charging. Cadence felt the sensation of being inside a bell when the monster impacted ringing off the dome seemingly harmlessly.
        “Come now Shining Armor,” One of the changelings spoke between the brutish one's collisions, “Our queen would not want her prizes delivered to her in less than favorable condition. Just come out of there and hop back into your cocoons, you do know there's no escape.”
        “If you expect us to give up that easily you're sorely mistaken,” Cadence spoke regally, “It's you who should give up, that blast definitely wasn't good for you. I'd leave before we do it again.”
        “Cadence, I love you,” Shining Armor's kiss had been out of the blue and while an affectionate husband she had never felt him kiss her so passionately! As his horn glowed again she noticed the tears rolling down his face. He never cried. She was about to comfort him, a flash of light she was back at the gardens and he was gone.
---
        Duo dropped the sedated Playtime on the ground unceremoniously. He looked too the palace and felt a small sense of shared accomplishment at seeing the smoke. Wishing he had been the one to execute the traitor instead of his own sister. The pain still weighed in his chest chewing at his heart. An explosion from the palace brought him out of his pondering. Turning back to see what final insult his brethren had bestowed he was shocked to see nothing made by a changeling, at least not entirely.
        The emotions coming from the flaming rainboom were mixed...like two trying to work together. One was definitely passionate and loud, but the other was more reserved. It didn't take him long to realize the traitor was still at this moment alive, and healthy enough to perform a spell of this magnitude.
        After the initial shock and rage relief washed over him. He'd be able to avenge his sister's death after all. He could already feel his claws enclosing around the traitors neck, his compatriots dead at his feet while he steadily chokes to death, utterly powerless.
        The mental lash of his superior snapped him back to reality and Duo got in his position to teleport. Leaving behind Canterlot and his chance for revenge.
---
        He felt it between the collisions against the shield, a small shake of the ground. His shield had been circumvented. If he had time to prepare the borrowing changeling wouldn't have mattered but...she was safe now and that's all that matters. He recognized the one who had been talking for what he was, a coordinator likely a sergeant or officer. He wasn't too familiar with the changeling rank structure.
        “Very perceptive Shining Armor,” The changeling spoke, “I thought that between everything else going on you wouldn't notice him. I'm curious, why not blast us back with your indomitable love?”
        Shining Armor didn't answer instead opting to take measured steps around his bubble in an attempt to find where the changeling would burst up from.
        “Which was it? Inability, do you not still both love each other?” It asked, “Or when you hit her does that go away? Do you not lover her anymore?"
        “Do you ever shut-up?” Shining Armor finally asked not taking his eyes off the ground.
        “On occasion,” The changeling smiled, “We'll carry on this discussion another time.”
        Fire engulfed them, Shining Armor reflexively closed his eyes expecting to be burnt to cinders but instead was in a large room. His shield no longer around him and facing Queen Chrysalis.
        The changeling queen smiled down at him from her black throne. “Welcome to my humble abode Shining Armor.”

Big thanks to my editors.
Rainbow Ninja was here
   ShadowblazeCR wub here.
Also update on my life. I’m not going to Parris Island, I want to leave it at that. Still when one door closes another opens. I’m looking at programing something I’ve always been interested in. Also had several people take me aside and say I’m to free thinking and artistic for the Marines.
That’s why the update was late this time though, had a lot on my plate in personal life. Finally clearing off some stuff from Netflix, had a trip to visit some friends up in Cincinnati, on the way back down visited my home town in Kentucky and had a wonderful nostalgia fest. May even plan to move back there at some point, it’s a pair of college towns and offers courses in what I’m interested in also has several gaming stores.
I used to have more money to commission stuff like this but something that usually helps me write is art. I’m not gonna be that self absorbed guy and demand it or have a competition for it. If you see something though or feel like posting it I’ll try to get in on my end credit bits. 
Quick note here. February first we lost a talented artist and I’d like to pay my respects to Monty Oum. He was a gifted man who was able to make use of his talent to make wonderful works of art. Rest in Peace.
Thanks for reading, if you fav please like.